soit … soit
The French phrase for "either or" is soit … soit.
This phrase is used to present a choice between two possibilities.
Which one should you use?
The phrase ou … ou … is a common, slightly less formal alternative to soit … soit … The soit … soit … construction is used for two alternatives, whereas ou alone is used for a simple choice.
How does it change in a sentence?
The elements connected by soit … soit must be grammatically parallel (e.g., two nouns, two verbs or two adjectives).
Did you know?
- When used as an interjection, soit! is a way of saying 'so be it' or 'very well' to concede a point in an argument.
- The word soit is actually a form of the verb 'to be', which is why it sounds like a command or a wish in English.
- In mathematics, you might see soit used at the start of a sentence to mean 'Let x be…', which is a different function than the 'either…or' choice.
Examples in context
- Soit nous allons au cinéma, soit nous restons à la maison ce soir.Either we go to the cinema or we stay at home tonight.
- Dites-moi l'un ou l'autre, ça m'est égal.Tell me either one, it doesn't matter to me.
- soit elle, soit luiEither her or him
- soit l'un, soit l'autreEither one or the other
- Soit tu apprends le français, soit tu apprends l'espagnol.Either you learn French or you learn Spanish.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries soit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
