of
English meaning: Or
Definition
Used to link alternatives.
Example
“Wil je koffie of thee?”
In English: “Would you like coffee or tea?”
Another example: “Weet jij of de winkel vandaag open is?”
Usage — When, Where & How
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'or', linking alternatives; it can also introduce an indirect yes/no question ('whether'). Used in all registers.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
'Of' originates from the Old Dutch 'of,' serving as a conjunction to denote alternatives. Its use has remained consistent throughout the development of the language.
Common Collocations
- of niet
- of zo
- of anders
- vroeg of laat
- ja of nee
Word Forms
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Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“In het land der blinden is eenoog koning.”
“In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”
“Ondanks alles geloof ik dat de mensen in de grond van hun hart toch goed zijn.”
“Despite everything, I believe that people are still good at heart.”
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Language information
- Language
- Nederlands
- Dutch
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Germanic
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