olgu ... või
Whatever It May Be (Olgu)
Olgu ilm milline tahes, me läheme means whatever the weather is like, we're going. The first part says that the weather does not matter.
How It Works
olgu is the jussive of olema: let it be. At the start of a phrase, it lets every option through, and the main sentence says what happens anyway.
1. olgu ... või ... (whether ... or ...)
- Olgu mees või naine, kõik on oodatud. (Man or woman, everyone is welcome.)
- Olgu see raske või mitte, ma proovin. (Whether it's hard or not, I'll try.)
In the middle of a sentence, olgu siis often means be it: Kõik keeled, olgu siis eesti või inglise, on huvitavad. (All languages, be it Estonian or English, are interesting.)
2. olgu + question word + tahes (whatever, however)
- Olgu ilm milline tahes, me läheme. (Whatever the weather, we're going.)
- Olgu ta kes tahes, ta peab järjekorras ootama. (Whoever he is, he has to wait in line.)
3. The fixed phrase olgu kuidas on (be that as it may): Olgu kuidas on, homme on uus päev.
olgu never changes: olgu ta kes tahes, olgu nad suured või väikesed. A comma separates the olgu phrase from the rest of the sentence.
Do not confuse it with olgugi et, which means although: Olgugi et oli hilja, jäime veel. (Although it was late, we stayed on.)
Examples (5)
- Olgu ilm milline tahes, me läheme matkale.
Whatever the weather, we're going hiking.
Word by Word: be.JUSS weather what-kind ever, we go to-hike
- Olgu mees või naine, kõik on oodatud.
Man or woman, everyone is welcome.
- Kõik lapsed, olgu nad suured või väikesed, saavad kingituse.
All children, big or small, get a present.
- Olgu see raske või mitte, ma proovin.
Whether it's hard or not, I'll try.
- Olgu kuidas on, homme on uus päev.
Be that as it may, tomorrow is a new day.
A fixed phrase for ending a discussion or moving on.
Common Mistakes
Using the ordinary present tense on instead of olgu.
On mees või naine, kõik on oodatud.Olgu mees või naine, kõik on oodatud.To say that every option is welcome, the phrase needs olgu. The present tense on does not carry this meaning.
How It Connects
Learn This First
olgu concedes every option.
Related Patterns
- ehkki / olgugi etFormal Although
olgugi et means although, for one real fact rather than every option.
Level 5 - olgu + -nudConceding a Point (Olgu ... -nud)
Another concessive use of olgu, with the -nud form.
Level 6 - kas ... võiEither ... or and Whether
A plain either-or question or choice, without the whatever meaning.
Level 3 - ärguLet Someone Not Do It (Ärgu)
Also a -gu form: tehku või ärgu tehku (whether he does it or not).
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice olgu ... või in Bubblegum
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