soss

Otherwise: Soss

Level 4

Soss means otherwise or or else. It says what will happen if something is not done. Because it is an adverb, the verb comes right after it: Maach dech fäerdeg, soss komme mer ze spéit. (Get ready, or we'll be late.)

How It Works

1. Otherwise, or else
Soss introduces what will happen if the first part does not happen. The first part is often a command or a sentence with mussen:

  • Maach dech fäerdeg, soss komme mer ze spéit.
  • Vergiess de Backpulver net, soss geet de Kuch net op.
  • Mir mussen de Schaf auserneenhuelen, soss passt en net an de Lift.

2. The verb comes next
Soss is an adverb, not a conjunction like an or oder. It takes the first place, so the verb comes right after it and the subject follows: soss komme mer, soss geet de Kuch. This works like dowéinst and deemno and dofir and also.

3. Else
Together with nach, eppes or een, soss means else:

  • Soss nach eppes? (Anything else?)
  • Huet soss nach een eng Fro? (Does anyone else have a question?)

4. Apart from that, usually
Soss can also mean apart from that or usually:

  • Ofgesi vun dengem Schnapp, geet et soss gutt? (Apart from your cold, are you well?)
  • Ech iessen haut manner wéi soss. (I'm eating less than usual today.)

Examples (6)

  1. Maach dech fäerdeg, soss komme mer ze spéit.

    Get ready, or we'll be late.

    Komme comes right after soss; mer is the short form of mir.

  2. Vergiess de Backpulver net, soss geet de Kuch net op.

    Don't forget the baking powder, or the cake won't rise.

    The verb geet comes second, and the prefix op goes to the end.

  3. Zeck den Hond net, soss bäisst en dech!

    Don't tease the dog, or it will bite you!

  4. Soss nach eppes?

    Anything else?

    Here soss means else.

  5. Ofgesi vun dengem Schnapp, geet et soss gutt?

    Apart from your cold, are you otherwise well?

    Here soss means apart from that.

  6. Ech iessen haut manner wéi soss.

    I'm eating less than usual today.

    Wéi soss means than usual.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the subject right after soss.

    Maach dech fäerdeg, soss mir kommen ze spéit.
    Maach dech fäerdeg, soss komme mer ze spéit.

    Soss takes the first place, so the verb comes next and the subject follows it.

  • Sending the verb to the end.

    Vergiess de Backpulver net, soss de Kuch net opgeet.
    Vergiess de Backpulver net, soss geet de Kuch net op.

    Soss is not a conjunction like wann. It is followed by normal main-clause word order.

How It Connects

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

sossLevel 4Otherwise: Soss

Learn This First

Before Otherwise: Soss, learn That's Why: Dofir and Also.

Words in This Pattern

soss