arba / ar

Or: Arba and Ar

Level 2

Statement: kavą arba arbatą. Question: Kava ar arbata?

How It Works

1. Arba in statements.

  • Rytais geriu kavą arba arbatą. (In the mornings I drink coffee or tea.)
  • Į darbą važiuoju autobusu arba dviračiu. (I go to work by bus or by bike.)

2. Ar in questions. When you ask someone to choose, link the choices with ar:

  • Kava ar arbata? (Coffee or tea?)
  • Tu eini ar lieki? (Are you going or staying?)

This is the same word as the question word in yes-no questions. It can appear twice: Ar nori kavos, ar arbatos? (Do you want coffee or tea?)

3. Ar in statements. Ar can also join words in a statement, especially for rough numbers and short phrases: du ar trys (two or three), šiandien ar rytoj (today or tomorrow). For a clear everyday choice in a statement, arba is the safe choice.

4. Commas. A single arba or ar joining two words needs no comma. When the word is repeated, a comma comes before the second one: Ar nori kavos, ar arbatos? See arba ..., arba ... and ar ..., ar ....

5. Neither ... nor. After a negative verb, English or often means neither. Lithuanian uses nei ..., nei ... here: Negeriu nei kavos, nei arbatos.

Examples (6)

  1. Rytais geriu kavą arba arbatą.

    In the mornings I drink coffee or tea.

    Word by Word: In-mornings I-drink coffee or tea.

    A statement, so or is arba.

  2. Kava ar arbata?

    Coffee or tea?

    Word by Word: Coffee or tea?

    A question asking you to choose, so or is ar.

  3. Ar nori kavos, ar arbatos?

    Do you want coffee or tea?

    Word by Word: Q you-want coffee, or tea?

    Ar starts the question and is repeated before the second choice, after a comma.

  4. Į darbą važiuoju autobusu arba dviračiu.

    I go to work by bus or by bike.

    Word by Word: Into work I-ride by-bus or by-bike.

  5. Tu eini ar lieki?

    Are you going or staying?

    Word by Word: You go or stay?

  6. Ten buvo du ar trys žmonės.

    There were two or three people there.

    Word by Word: There were two or three people.

    Ar also appears in statements with rough numbers.

Common Mistakes

  • Using arba after a negative verb to mean neither.

    Negeriu kavos arba arbatos.
    Negeriu nei kavos, nei arbatos.

    The speaker means they drink neither. After a negative verb, use nei ..., nei ....

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

arba / arLevel 2Or: Arba and Ar

Learn This First

Arba links alternatives in statements, while ar also links alternatives in questions.

Words in This Pattern