hvis

Danish

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German wes, genitive to wê (“who”), wat (“what”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ves/, [ʋe̝s̺]
• Rhymes: -es

Conjunction

hvis

1. if (supposing that)

Usage notes

Note that conditional does not require an explicit conjunction, but may be formed by changing word order. Compare these synonymous sentences:

Hvis du har kvalme, bør du provokere opkastning.

Har du kvalme, bør du provokere opkastning.

If you feel nauseated, you should provoke vomiting.

If a construction of the latter form is used, the subordinate clause must precede the main clause, because otherwise there would be no way to tell them apart.

Synonyms

• dersom
• ifald
• om
• såfremt
• forudsat

Derived terms

• hvis og hvis min røv var spids

Etymology 2

From Old Norse hvess, genitive singular of hvo / hvem (“who”), from Proto-Germanic *hwaz (“who”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ves]

Pronoun

hvis

1. whose (of whom, of which)

References

• “hvis” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “hvis,2” in Den Danske Ordbog

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German wes, genitive of wat (“what”).

The Low German genitive was often used in subject or object function in the sense of “that which” or “whatever.” For example: Wes deme koninge dunket got, dat is billich dat men also dot. (“Whatever seems good to the king, it is appropriate that one does so.”) Since such a phrase can easily be reinterpreted as “if it seems good to the king”, the Scandinavian conjunction may have developed from this usage.

Conjunction

hvis

1. if

Synonyms

• om

Etymology 2

From Old Norse hvess (genitive of hvat).

Pronoun

hvis

1. whose (of whom)

References

• “hvis” in The Bokmål Dictionary.