si c'était

if it was; whether it was

→ si

phrase Common #8,690

if it was; whether it was Used to introduce a condition or an indirect yes/no question. In hypothetical contexts, c'était can often be translated as “were,” as in “if it were.”

FR: Je me demande si c'était vraiment nécessaire.

EN: I wonder whether it was really necessary.

Si c'était Shahid Khan ?

What if it were Shahid Khan?

— Gangs of Wasseypur : 1ère partie (2012)

Si c'était le cas ?

What if that were the case?

Si c'était pour votre père, pourquoi vous l'a-t-il apporté ?

If it was for your father, why did he bring it to you?

— Malèna (2000)

Demande-lui si c'était mon père !

Ask him if he was my father!

— La Cité des hommes (2007)

Si c'était juste pour essayer t'aurais pas pu choisir autre chose que mon doigt ?

If it was just to try it out, couldn't you have chosen something other than my finger?

— Grave (2017)

Si c'était nécessaire, nous pourrions vendre mon collier.

If it were necessary, we could sell my necklace.

— Jean de Florette (1986)

Vous ne seriez pas avec moi, si c'était le cas.

You wouldn’t be with me if that were the case.

— Rebecca (1940)

Si c'était une guerre pour la liberté, j'aurais compris cela.

If it had been a war for freedom, I would have understood that.

— Guerre et Paix (1968)

Il a regardé la plaque de la rue et a demandé si c'était là.

He looked at the street sign and asked if this was the place.

— Les Diaboliques (1955)

Si c'était facile, ce ne serait pas un défi.

If it were easy, it wouldn’t be a challenge.

Si c'était lui.

If it was him.

— Roma (2018)

Si c'était un faux, mon grand-père l'aurait su.

If it had been a fake, my grandfather would have known.

— Atlantide, l'empire perdu (2001)

Sans les mots, tu sais pas si c'était une dispute.

Without the words, you don't know if it was an argument.

— Anatomie d'une chute (2023)

Si c'était aussi simple.

If only it were that simple.

Si c'était le linceul de ta grand-mère, tu devrais le lui ôter, pour moi.

If it were your grandmother’s shroud, you’d have to take it off her for me.

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

Si c'était que ça, hein Zico ?

If only that were all, eh, Zico?

— Carandiru (2003)

Si c'était la première question de l'examen, tu serais fichue.

If that were the first question on the exam, you’d be screwed.

— Parasite (2019)

Je me suis toujours demandé si c'était réel.

I always wondered if it was real.

Qu'est-ce qui t'a pris de tirer si c'était pas le Tatare ?

What possessed you to shoot if it wasn't the Tatar?

— Le Frère (1997)

Si c'était possible, on devrait tenter d'atteindre un état supérieur !

If it were possible, we should try to reach a higher state!

— The Garden of Sinners, film 5 : Spirale contradictoire (2008)

Tu crois que je ferais venir mon père du carnaval si c'était pas grave ?

Do you really think I’d bring my father back from Carnival if it weren’t serious?

— L'Agent secret (2025)

Ouais, ce serait cool si c'était ça.

Yeah, that would be cool if that were it.

— Cold Storage (2026)

Ce serait formidable si c'était vous.

It would be great if it were you.

— In the Mood for Love (2000)

Si c'était fini, tu sais ce que je ferais ?

If it were over, do you know what I would do?

— À l'ouest rien de nouveau (2022)

Si c'était moi, je serais très heureux de le recevoir.

If it were me, I would be very happy to receive it.

— Les Enfants du temps (2019)

Si c'était un mauvais esprit ?

What if it were an evil spirit?

— Le Conte de la princesse Kaguya (2013)

Mais que je le ferais si c'était nécessaire.

But I would do it if necessary.

Vous avez regardé si c'était ça ?

Did you check whether that was it?

— The Big Sick (2017)

Si c'était avec lui, rien ne me faisait peur.

If I was with him, nothing scared me.

— Lady Vengeance (2005)

Si c'était les deux à la fois ?

What if it were both at once?

— Bugonia (2025)

Si c'était ton cas, serais-tu considéré comme une menace nationale ?

If that were the case for you, would you be considered a national security threat?

— Article 15 (2019)

Tu dirais oui si c'était du rock.

You’d say yes if it were rock.

— À bout de course (1988)

Si c'était à refaire, je le referais !

If I had to do it over, I’d do it again!

J'ai regardé le train, ne sachant pas si c'était le mien ou le sien.

I looked at the train, not knowing whether it was mine or his.

— De tout cœur (1998)

Si c'était le cas pour toi, dis-le.

If that were the case for you, say so.

— Andhadhun (2018)

Le puzzle prendrait-il forme si c'était vous qui aviez tout décidé ?

Would the puzzle take shape if you were the one who had decided everything?

— L'Accusé (2017)

Si c'était possible, à quoi ça servirait d'être humain ?

If it were possible, what would be the point of being human?

— Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Si c'était important ?

What if it were important?

— Le Cinquième Élément (1997)

Si c'était moi ?

What if it were me?

— Memories of Murder (2003)

Si c'était un serpent ?

What if it were a snake?

— Anaconda (2025)

J'aiderais, si c'était en mon pouvoir.

I would help if it were within my power.

Si c'était dans notre langue, l'enfoiré comprendrait.

If it were in our language, that asshole would understand.

— Chute libre (1993)

Mais si c'était le cas, ça donnerait quoi à ton avis ?

But if that were the case, what do you think it would be like?

— Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Si c'était lui, la cause de tout ça.

If he were the cause of all this.

— [REC] (2007)

Si c'était toxique, je serais mort maintenant.

If it were toxic, I’d be dead by now.

— Aucun autre choix (2025)

Tu me le dirais si c'était le cas ?

Would you tell me if that were the case?

J'aimerais bien y aller, si c'était plus près.

I’d love to go, if it were closer.

— Voyage à Tokyo (1953)