أو
أو - Arabic
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ʔaw/
Conjunction
أَوْ • (ʔaw)
- indicates an inclusive disjunction
- كُلِ التَّمْرَ الْهِنْدِيَّ أَوِ ٱشْرَبِ الْبُرْتُقَالَ.
- kuli t-tamra l-hindiyya ʔawi šrabi l-burtuqāla.
- Eat the tamarind! Or drink the orange-juice!
- (only in declaratives) indicates an exclusive disjunction
- كُلُّ شَيْءٍ إِمَّا مَوْجُودٌ أَوْ غَيْرُ مَوْجُودٍ.
- kullu šayʔin ʔimmā mawjūdun ʔaw ḡayru mawjūdin.
- Every object is either existent or inexistent.
- لَا أَدْرِي هَلْ صَاحِبُكَ شَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ.
- lā ʔadrī hal ṣāḥibuka šaqiyyun ʔaw saʕīdun.
- I do not know whether your friend is happy or downhearted.
Usage notes
- أَمْ (ʔam) is used in questions where only one option is correct, possible or needed, whereas أَوْ (ʔaw) is used if more options may be correct.
- هَلْ سَيَأْتِي أَبُوكَ أَوْ أُمُّكَ؟
- hal sayaʔtī ʔabūka ʔaw ʔummuka?
- Will your mother or your father come? (will anyone of them come?)
- هَلْ سَيَأْتِي أَبُوكَ أَمْ أُمُّكَ؟
- hal sayaʔtī ʔabūka ʔam ʔummuka?
- Will your mother or your father come? (which one will come?)
Related terms
Descendants
- → Swahili: au
أو - South Levantine Arabic
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ʔaw/, [ʔaw]
Conjunction
أو • (ʔaw)