Als
Example: Ik ga naar de winkel als het regent.
Definition
"Als" is a Dutch preposition used to introduce a condition or a specific time, often translated as "if" or "when" in English. It connects clauses to indicate that one action depends on the occurrence of another, as in 'Ik ga naar de winkel als het regent' (I go to the store if it rains).
Etymology
The Dutch word "als" originates from Old Dutch "als" or "alsi," related to Old High German "als" and Gothic "allai," meaning 'as' or 'like.' It has been used to express comparison or condition for centuries, showing its long-standing role in Germanic languages.
Learn to use this word actively
"Als" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - (A1) - set 2", containing 103 commonly used words.
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