Ou bien
Example: Tu peux prendre un café ou bien un thé, comme tu préfères.
Definition
"Ou bien" is a French phrase used as a conjunction meaning 'or else' or 'alternatively,' often employed to present two options or choices in a sentence, as in 'You can have coffee or else tea, whichever you prefer."
Etymology
The phrase "ou bien" combines the French word "ou," meaning 'or,' with "bien," meaning 'well' or 'indeed.' Together, they emphasize an alternative or choice. This construction has been part of French usage for centuries, highlighting options clearly in speech and writing.
Learn to use this word actively
"Ou bien" appears in the Vocaplus list "French - General - (B2) - set 3", containing 112 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select French as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
