What does “por si acaso” mean in Spanish?

A traveler’s tip about Colombia: “Siempre es buena idea tener algo de efectivo por si acaso” — it’s always a good idea to carry some cash, just in case. “Por si acaso” goes at the end of a sentence and means you’re covering a possible “what if”: many shops don’t take cards, so cash keeps you ready if one of them doesn’t. Friendly, practical advice — not a warning. Add it to almost any plan.

Spoken line: “Siempre es buena idea tener algo de efectivo por si acaso.” (It’s always a good idea to carry some cash, just in case.) “Por si acaso” usually sits at the end and covers a possible “what if”: - Lleva un paraguas, por si acaso. — Take an umbrella, just in case. - Te dejo mi número, por si acaso. — I’ll give you my number, just in case. - Guarda el recibo por si acaso. — Keep the receipt, just in case. You can also use it on its own as a short reply: “¿Por qué traes tanto dinero?” — “Por si acaso.” The “si” here means “if,” and the whole phrase points to a maybe-situation you’d rather be ready for.