or
main choice between two or more alternatives
Vrei ceai sau cafea?
Do you want tea or coffee?
Putem merge azi sau mâine.
We can go today or tomorrow.
E mare sau mică?
Is it big or small?
#71 · Coordinating conjunction · CCONJ
In Romanian, sau means “or”. It’s the #71 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Coordinating conjunction meaning "or"; it links alternatives, choices, or equivalent options.
neutralmain choice between two or more alternatives
Do you want tea or coffee?
We can go today or tomorrow.
Is it big or small?
used in warnings or consequences
Hurry up, or we’ll miss the train.
Tell the truth, or someone else will find out.
used in clarifications and self-corrections
We’re going on Saturday, or maybe on Sunday.
It’s an interesting film, or rather, a very good one.
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
Links two or more coordinated alternatives.
Most often joins nouns, adjectives, verbs, clauses, or whole sentences.
Poți alege între roșu sau albastru.
You can choose between red or blue.
Can introduce a consequence in warnings or requests.
In this use, it is close to 'or else' in English.
Sună-mă acum, sau plec fără tine.
Call me now, or I’m leaving without you.
Often appears in pairs or chains of options.
It can repeat to list several choices, especially in speech.
Poți lua autobuzul sau metroul sau un taxi.
You can take the bus or the метро or a taxi.
vs. ori
Both can mean 'or', but ori is more common in questions, alternatives, and distributive expressions; sau is the default neutral conjunction in ordinary coordinate choices.
Vrei apă sau suc?
Do you want water or juice?
vs. fie... fie...
fie... fie... is a paired structure meaning 'either... or...', while sau is the simple single conjunction.
Fie mergem acum, fie rămânem acasă.
Either we go now, or we stay home.
vs. ori... ori...
ori... ori... is a paired alternative structure; sau simply joins options without the stronger paired pattern.
Ori pleci acum, ori rămâi.
Either you leave now, or you stay.
Vrei ceai sau cafea?
Do you want tea or coffee?
sau - Simple alternative between two options.
Grăbește-te, sau pierdem trenul.
Hurry up, or we’ll miss the train.
sau - Introduces a consequence.
E nou sau second-hand?
Is it new or second-hand?
sau - Connects contrasting alternatives.