"or not" meaning in All languages combined

See or not on Wiktionary

Particle [English]

IPA: [ɔ˨ nɔt˨] [Singapore], [ə.nɔt˨] [Singapore] Forms: anot [alternative, Singapore], ornot [alternative, Singapore]
Etymology: Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”). See also Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”), 是抑毋是 (sī á-m̄-sī / sǐ á-m̄-sǐ, “isn't?”, literally “is it? or is it not?”), Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with 不, 無 /无, 唔 and other dialectal synonyms. Etymology templates: {{clq|en|nan-hbl|抑無|lit=or not; or no; or none|tr=a̍h-bô / á-bô}} Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”), {{ncog|nan-hbl|是毋是|t=whether or not|tr=sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ}} Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”), {{ncog|cmn|是不是|t=whether or not}} Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”) Head templates: {{head|en|particle|head=|sort=}} or not, {{en-particle}} or not
  1. (Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement. Tags: Malaysia, Singapore, colloquial Synonyms: is it
    Sense id: en-or_not-en-particle-C9wQXyVY Categories (other): Malaysian English, Singapore English, English entries with incorrect language header, English particles, Manglish, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Singlish Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 36 33 31 Disambiguation of Manglish: 76 12 12 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 33 37 30 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 33 38 29 Disambiguation of Singlish: 72 16 12
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Phrase [English]

Audio: en-us-or not.ogg Forms: anot [alternative, Singapore], ornot [alternative, Singapore]
Head templates: {{head|en|phrase}} or not
  1. Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened.
    Sense id: en-or_not-en-phrase-CZLwASHe Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 36 33 31 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 33 37 30 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 33 38 29
  2. A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated. Related terms: on second thought
    Sense id: en-or_not-en-phrase-DncEyHGQ Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 36 33 31 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 33 37 30 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 33 38 29
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Alternative forms

{
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "nan-hbl",
        "3": "抑無",
        "lit": "or not; or no; or none",
        "tr": "a̍h-bô / á-bô"
      },
      "expansion": "Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”)",
      "name": "clq"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nan-hbl",
        "2": "是毋是",
        "t": "whether or not",
        "tr": "sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ"
      },
      "expansion": "Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”)",
      "name": "ncog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "cmn",
        "2": "是不是",
        "t": "whether or not"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”)",
      "name": "ncog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”). See also Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”), 是抑毋是 (sī á-m̄-sī / sǐ á-m̄-sǐ, “isn't?”, literally “is it? or is it not?”), Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with 不, 無 /无, 唔 and other dialectal synonyms.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "anot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ornot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "particle",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "en-particle"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "particle",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Malaysian English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Singapore English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "36 33 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English particles",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "76 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Manglish",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 37 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 38 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "72 16 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Singlish",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              24,
              30
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:",
          "text": "You want to go see snow or not, Ma?",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              4,
              10
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2020 January 26, JustGreat, “I ordered Pizza Hut”, in SG Talk:",
          "text": "Can or not ?",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement."
      ],
      "id": "en-or_not-en-particle-C9wQXyVY",
      "links": [
        [
          "yes/no question",
          "yes/no question#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "is it"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Malaysia",
        "Singapore",
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ɔ˨ nɔt˨]",
      "tags": [
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ə.nɔt˨]",
      "tags": [
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Colloquial Singaporean English"
  ],
  "word": "or not"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "anot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ornot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "phrase"
      },
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "phrase",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "36 33 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 37 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 38 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened."
      ],
      "id": "en-or_not-en-phrase-CZLwASHe"
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "36 33 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 37 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 38 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              116,
              122
            ]
          ],
          "text": "\"I bet the green car will make it unscathed!\" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. \"Or not,\" she sighed.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated."
      ],
      "id": "en-or_not-en-phrase-DncEyHGQ",
      "links": [
        [
          "sardonic",
          "sardonic#English"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "29 71",
          "word": "on second thought"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "en-us-or not.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e3/En-us-or_not.ogg/En-us-or_not.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/En-us-or_not.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "or not"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English particles",
    "English phrases",
    "English terms calqued from Hokkien",
    "English terms derived from Hokkien",
    "Manglish",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Singlish"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "nan-hbl",
        "3": "抑無",
        "lit": "or not; or no; or none",
        "tr": "a̍h-bô / á-bô"
      },
      "expansion": "Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”)",
      "name": "clq"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nan-hbl",
        "2": "是毋是",
        "t": "whether or not",
        "tr": "sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ"
      },
      "expansion": "Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”)",
      "name": "ncog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "cmn",
        "2": "是不是",
        "t": "whether or not"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”)",
      "name": "ncog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Calque of Hokkien 抑無 /抑无 (a̍h-bô / á-bô, literally “or not; or no; or none”). See also Hokkien 是毋是 (sī-m̄-sī / sǐ-m̄-sǐ, “whether or not”), 是抑毋是 (sī á-m̄-sī / sǐ á-m̄-sǐ, “isn't?”, literally “is it? or is it not?”), Mandarin 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with 不, 無 /无, 唔 and other dialectal synonyms.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "anot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ornot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "particle",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "en-particle"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "particle",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Malaysian English",
        "Singapore English"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              24,
              30
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:",
          "text": "You want to go see snow or not, Ma?",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              4,
              10
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2020 January 26, JustGreat, “I ordered Pizza Hut”, in SG Talk:",
          "text": "Can or not ?",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "yes/no question",
          "yes/no question#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Malaysia",
        "Singapore",
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ɔ˨ nɔt˨]",
      "tags": [
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ə.nɔt˨]",
      "tags": [
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "is it"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Colloquial Singaporean English"
  ],
  "word": "or not"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English phrases",
    "Manglish",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Singlish"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "anot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ornot",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Singapore"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "phrase"
      },
      "expansion": "or not",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "phrase",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "on second thought"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened."
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              116,
              122
            ]
          ],
          "text": "\"I bet the green car will make it unscathed!\" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. \"Or not,\" she sighed.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "sardonic",
          "sardonic#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "en-us-or not.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/e3/En-us-or_not.ogg/En-us-or_not.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/En-us-or_not.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "or not"
}

Download raw JSONL data for or not meaning in All languages combined (4.0kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-05-27 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-05-20 using wiktextract (a4e883e and f1c2b61). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.