या त ... या

Either ... or

Level 4Sounds Like yā ta ... yā

Put या त before the first choice and या before the second one.

How It Works

Use या त ... या for a choice between two things that cannot both happen. English says either ... or.

ChoiceSentence
two drinksया त चिया पिउनुहोस्, या कफी पिउनुहोस्।
two placesउनी या त घरमा छिन्, या अफिसमा छिन्।

The first half starts with या त and the second half starts with या. A comma usually stands between the halves.

For a plain or between two nouns, use वा or अथवा in writing: चिया वा कफी. For a plain question with two options, a speaker often just says चिया कि कफी? with कि.

Examples (5)

  1. या त चिया पिउनुहोस्, या कफी पिउनुहोस्।

    Either have tea or have coffee.

    Each half is a full request with तपाईं.

  2. या त आज जाऔँ, या भोलि जाऔँ।

    Either let us go today, or let us go tomorrow.

    जाऔँ is the let-us form.

  3. उनी या त घरमा छिन्, या अफिसमा छिन्।

    She is either at home or at the office.

    The two places sit inside one sentence.

  4. या त बस चढौँ, या हिँडेर जाऔँ।

    Either we take the bus or we go on foot.

    Two plans for the same trip.

  5. या त मलाई भन, या आफैँ गर।

    Either tell me or do it yourself.

    भन and गर are the commands for तिमी.

How It Connects

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

या त ... याLevel 4Either ... or

Learn This First

या त ... या offers choices.