buď ... alebo

Either ... or

Level 3

Buď ... alebo means either ... or. It makes a choice between two options sharper than plain alebo.

How It Works

One or the other. Plain alebo simply offers a choice: Kávu alebo čaj? (Coffee or tea?) When you put buď in front of the first option, you stress that it will be one or the other: Buď kávu, alebo čaj. (Either coffee or tea.)

What it can join.

  • single words: buď dnes, alebo zajtra (either today or tomorrow)
  • phrases: buď vlakom, alebo autobusom (either by train or by bus)
  • whole clauses: Buď prídeš ty, alebo pôjdem ja. (Either you come, or I will go.)

Where buď goes. Buď stands right before the first option, so its place depends on what you are choosing between: Buď pôjdeme do kina, alebo zostaneme doma. (two whole plans) but Pôjdeme buď do kina, alebo do divadla. (two places).

The comma. Slovak spelling rules put a comma before the second part of a repeated conjunction, so the usual spelling is buď …, alebo …. When the two options clearly rule each other out, the rules also allow leaving this comma out, but writing it is always correct. The same comma appears in alebo …, alebo …, which means the same thing, and in ani ..., ani ... (neither ... nor).

Do not confuse it with the verb. Buď is also the command form of byť: Buď ticho! (Be quiet!). See the singular command form.

Examples (6)

  1. Buď prídeš ty, alebo pôjdem ja.

    Either you come, or I'll go.

    Word by Word: Either will-come you, or will-go I.

  2. Stretneme sa buď dnes, alebo zajtra.

    We'll meet either today or tomorrow.

    Word by Word: We-will-meet each-other either today, or tomorrow.

  3. Do Košíc pôjdem buď vlakom, alebo autobusom.

    I'll go to Košice either by train or by bus.

    Word by Word: To Košice I-will-go either train-INSTR, or bus-INSTR.

  4. Na obed si dám buď polievku, alebo šalát.

    For lunch I'll have either soup or a salad.

    Word by Word: For lunch myself I-will-give either soup, or salad.

  5. Buď sa budeš učiť, alebo nepôjdeš von.

    Either you study, or you're not going out.

    Word by Word: Either yourself you-will learn, or not-you-will-go out.

    Two whole clauses as the two options.

  6. Buď mi zavolaj, alebo mi napíš správu.

    Either call me or send me a message.

    Word by Word: Either me call, or me write message.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Czech word nebo instead of alebo.

    Buď dnes, nebo zajtra.
    Buď dnes, alebo zajtra.

    Nebo is Czech. In Slovak, nebo means sky, so always use alebo for or.

  • Starting a choice with buď and never giving the second option.

    Prídem buď zajtra.
    Prídem buď zajtra, alebo pozajtra.

    Buď announces that two options are coming. If there is only one, leave buď out: Prídem zajtra.

How It Connects

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

buď ... aleboLevel 3Either ... or

Learn This First

Before Either ... Or, learn And, But and Or. buď ... alebo strengthens alebo.

Words in This Pattern

buďalebo