Meaning
or
- otherwise, or else
In a sentence
Possiamo andare al mare oppure restare a casa.
We can go to the beach or stay home.
Vuoi tè oppure preferisci un caffè?
Do you want tea or would you prefer a coffee?
Sbrigati, oppure perdiamo l'ultimo treno.
Hurry up, or else we'll miss the last train.
Usage notes
- Use oppure more often in writing or careful speech; o is the everyday default for simple alternatives.
- It can introduce a second question or option by itself: Oppure? = Or else?/Or maybe that instead?
- Before another clause, oppure often feels slightly stronger or more contrastive than o.