oder
or · isn't it? / right?
Oder is the German word for 'or'. It links alternatives and is also used as a tag question meaning 'isn't it?' or 'right?'.
What oder means
- or — connecting two or more alternatives
- isn't it? / right? — at the end of a statement to ask for confirmation
Heard in real German videos
Lines where oder was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Die gute Nachricht oder die schlechte?The good news or the bad news?
- Ein schöner Abend, oder?A nice evening, isn't it?
Example sentences
- Möchtest du Tee oder Kaffee?Would you like tea or coffee?
- Wir können ins Kino gehen oder zu Hause bleiben.We can go to the cinema or stay at home.
- Das Wetter ist schön, oder?The weather is nice, isn't it?
Common phrases
- oder soor something like that
- entweder ... odereither ... or
- oder auch nichtor not
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers sometimes use 'oder' at the end of a sentence as a filler like 'or...' but in German it is only used as a tag question for confirmation, not as a hesitation.
Don’t confuse it with
- aber — Aber means 'but', while oder means 'or'.
Questions learners ask
How do you use 'oder' as a tag question?
Add 'oder' at the end of a statement to ask for confirmation, similar to 'isn't it?' or 'right?' in English. For example: 'Du kommst mit, oder?' (You're coming along, aren't you?).
What is the difference between 'oder' and 'sondern'?
Use 'oder' to offer alternatives, but use 'sondern' after a negation to correct something: 'nicht A, sondern B' (not A, but B).