अन्यथा

Otherwise in Formal Writing

Level 6Sounds Like an'yathā

अन्यथा means otherwise. It is the formal partner of वरना and नहीं तो.

How It Works

अन्यथा warns about a consequence. It is typical of notices, forms, instructions and formal letters.

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Everydayवरना, नहीं तो
Formalअन्यथा

The usual shape is an instruction, a comma, then अन्यथा and the consequence:

  • The instruction uses polite command forms such as करें, लें or न बताएँ.
  • The consequence is in the future (हटा दिया जाएगा) or is a possibility with सकता है (नुक़सान हो सकता है).

अन्यथा also means in another way. You will hear it in the polite phrase मेरी बात को अन्यथा न लें, meaning please don't take what I said the wrong way. People use it before or after saying something that might sound critical.

Like other formal connectors, अन्यथा sounds stiff in a chat with friends, where वरना is natural: जल्दी करो, वरना देर हो जाएगी।

Examples (4)

  1. समय पर शुल्क जमा करें, अन्यथा आपका नाम सूची से हटा दिया जाएगा।

    Pay the fee on time; otherwise your name will be removed from the list.

    An instruction, then अन्यथा and the consequence.

  2. कृपया अपना पासवर्ड किसी को न बताएँ, अन्यथा आपका खाता असुरक्षित हो सकता है।

    Please don't share your password with anyone, or your account may be at risk.

    सकता है presents the consequence as a possibility.

  3. दवा डॉक्टर की सलाह से ही लें, अन्यथा नुक़सान हो सकता है।

    Take medicine only on a doctor's advice; otherwise it may do harm.

    Typical wording for a health notice.

  4. मेरी बात को अन्यथा न लें।

    Please don't take what I said the wrong way.

    Here अन्यथा means differently, in a common polite phrase.

How It Connects

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अन्यथाLevel 6Otherwise in Formal Writing

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अन्यथा is the formal otherwise.

Words in This Pattern

अन्यथा