Learn Greek › B2 › άν
άν
if /ˈan/
particleB2#2221 most common
Also: whether, even if
Example sentences
Αν θέλεις, έλα.
If you want, come.
Αν βρέξει, θα μείνουμε σπίτι.
If it rains, we'll stay home.
Δεν ξέρω αν θα έρθει απόψε.
I don't know if (whether) he'll come tonight.
Αν είχα περισσότερα χρήματα, θα ταξίδευα σε όλο τον κόσμο.
If I had more money, I would travel all over the world.
Αν και ήταν κουρασμένος, συνέχισε να δουλεύει μέχρι αργά.
Although he was tired, he kept working until late.
Ακόμη κι αν μου το ζητούσε γονατιστός, δεν θα άλλαζα γνώμη.
Even if he begged me for it on his knees, I wouldn't change my mind.
Word family
εάνif (more formal variant)
άμαif, when, as soon as (colloquial)
αν καιalthough, even though
ακόμα κι ανeven if
ανίσωςin case, should it happen that
Etymology
Modern Greek 'αν' continues Ancient Greek ἐάν 'if', itself a contraction of εἰ 'if' plus the modal particle ἄν, worn down over time to a single syllable. The Ancient particle ἄν marked potential and contrary-to-fact statements, and that conditional/hypothetical force survives in the modern conjunction. It is invariable and never inflects.
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