Si vols arribar al riu, gira a l'esquerra a la cantonada i després creua el pont.

to want

Breakdown of Si vols arribar al riu, gira a l'esquerra a la cantonada i després creua el pont.

• a: at
• i: and
• arribar: to arrive

Questions & Answers about Si vols arribar al riu, gira a l'esquerra a la cantonada i després creua el pont.

What is the difference between si and sí?

In this sentence, si means if.

Catalan also has sí with an accent, and that means yes. So:

• si vols = if you want
• sí = yes

The accent matters because it changes the meaning.

Why is it vols? And where is tu?

Vols is the 2nd person singular form of the verb voler (to want), so it means you want.

Catalan often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who the subject is. So:

• Si vols arribar al riu = If you want to get to the river
• Si tu vols arribar al riu = same meaning, but tu is added for emphasis

This is very common in Catalan.

Does si vols literally mean if you want? Is that natural in directions?

Yes. Literally, si vols means if you want.

In a sentence like this, it introduces a condition:

• Si vols arribar al riu... = If you want to get to the river...

This is perfectly natural in Catalan. It can also sound a bit more conversational or gentle than just giving a bare command.

Why do we say arribar al riu? Why is there an after ?