Ou (en. Or)
/u/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishFrench
conjunction
Indicates a choice between two elements.
Do you want tea or coffee?
Tu veux du thé ou du café ?
Used to ask a question about a place.
Where are you going?
Où est-ce que tu vas ?
Introduces an alternative proposition.
I will take the train, or I will leave tomorrow.
Je prendrai le train, ou je partirai demain.
Etymology
Comes from the Latin 'aut', meaning 'or'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
where is that?
Indicates a request for location.
où ça ?
or else
Used to present another option.
ou alors
where are you?
Informal way to ask someone's location.
t'es où ?
Related Words
or else
Expression to indicate an alternative.
ou bien
neither
New conjunction expressing a joint negation.
ni
Slang Meanings
Used informally to mean 'where' in reference to a place.
Where is that?
C'est où, ça ?
Refers to an alternative in a friendly context.
Are we getting pizza or what?
On se fait une pizza ou quoi ?