siempre que (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

"Siempre que" is a conjunction.

Phonetic Transcription

/sjumˈpɾe ˈke/

Translation Options into English

• "whenever"
• "as long as"
• "provided that"

Meaning and Usage

"Siempre que" is used in the Spanish language to express conditionality or to introduce a situation that must occur for something else to happen. It can imply that an action or event is contingent upon another. This phrase is commonly used both in oral speech and written contexts, although its frequency might slightly lean towards written usage due to its formal nature.

Example Sentences

1. Siempre que estudies, aprobarás el examen.

2. Whenever you study, you will pass the exam.

3. Siempre que llegues a tiempo, podremos empezar la reunión.

4. As long as you arrive on time, we can start the meeting.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "siempre que" is not typically used in many idioms, it features prominently in various expressions relating to conditions:

1. Siempre que haya amor, hay esperanza.

2. Whenever there is love, there is hope.

3. Siempre que la vida te dé limones, haz limonada.

4. Whenever life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

5. No hay problema, siempre que lo informes.

6. No problem, as long as you inform me.

Etymology

"Siempre" derives from Latin "semper," meaning "always." "Que" comes from Latin "quid," meaning "what," but in this conjunction, it serves as a conditional relative meaning "that" or "which."

Synonyms

• "Cada vez que" (every time that)
• "Cuando" (when, in some contexts)

Antonyms

• "Nunca" (never)
• "A veces" (sometimes, in a contrasting sense)

"Siempre que" plays an essential role in forming conditional sentences in Spanish, therefore understanding its usage is crucial for mastering complex sentence structures.