Hvis det blir kjølig i kveld, drikker vi kakao i stedet for saft.

If it gets chilly this evening, we drink cocoa instead of juice.

Breakdown of Hvis det blir kjølig i kveld, drikker vi kakao i stedet for saft.

• drikke: to drink
• vi: we
• i: in
• det: it

Questions & Answers about Hvis det blir kjølig i kveld, drikker vi kakao i stedet for saft.

What does hvis mean here, and is it the normal word for if?

Yes. Hvis is the standard word for if when you are talking about a condition:

• Hvis det blir kjølig ... = If it gets cool ...

You may also see om in some kinds of if/whether sentences, but for a clear condition like this, hvis is the safest and most natural choice for learners.

Why does the sentence say det blir kjølig instead of det er kjølig?

Because blir means becomes / gets.

So:

• det er kjølig = it is cool
• det blir kjølig = it gets cool / it becomes cool

This sentence is about a change in the weather later in the evening, so blir fits better than er.

Why is there a det in Hvis det blir kjølig?