oder

/ˈoːdɐ/
conjunctionBeginner
formalinformal

Used to present alternatives or choices between two or more options

Möchtest du Tee oder Kaffee?

Would you like tea or coffee?

Wir können heute ins Kino gehen oder zu Hause bleiben.

We can go to the cinema today or stay at home.

💡

In German, 'oder' is used to list alternatives, similar to 'or' in English. It can connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Collocations

entweder ... odereither ... oroder wasor something

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

entweder ... oderphrase
either ... or

💡Pro Tip

Usage in Questions

'Oder' is commonly used in questions to offer choices, similar to 'or' in English.

Gold Rule

No Comma Before 'Oder'

In German, a comma is not used before 'oder' when listing alternatives, unlike in English.

📖Word Origin

From Middle High German 'oder', from Old High German 'odar', from Proto-Germanic '*aiwar' (ever).

📝Usage Notes

'Oder' is a coordinating conjunction that introduces alternatives. It is often used with 'entweder' (either) to emphasize the choice between two options.

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