or [ɔːʳ]
conjunction
1 (giving alternative) o; (before o-, ho-) u; (between numerals) ó
would you like tea or coffee? ¿quieres té o café?; seven or eight siete u ocho; men or women mujeres u hombres; 15 or 16 15 ó 16; let me go or I'll scream! ¡suélteme, o me pongo a gritar!; hurry up or you'll miss the bus date prisa, que vas a perder el autobús
rain or no rain, you've got to go con lluvia o sin lluvia, tienes que ir
not ... or ... no ... ni ...
he didn't write or telephone no escribió ni telefoneó; I don't eat meat or fish no como carne ni pescado; she can't dance or sing no sabe bailar ni cantar
20 or so unos veinte; veinte más o menos
an hour or so una hora más o menos
without relatives or friends sin parientes ni amigos
While or is usually translated by o, use u instead before words beginning with o and ho:
... two or three photos ... ... dos o tres fotos ...
... for one reason or another ... ... por un motivo u otro ...
She was accused of parricide or homicide Se le acusó de parricidio u homicidio
Write ó instead of o between numerals to prevent confusion with zero:
... 5 or 6 ... ... 5 ó 6 ...
Remember to use ni with negatives.