Dictionary

or not en · PART · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [ə.nɔt˨] (Singapore)
• [ɔ˨ nɔt˨] (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.

Meanings

1. (Malaysia, Singapore, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement.
   • Are you coming or not?
   • You want to go see snow or not, Ma? 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
   • Can or not ? 2020 January 26, JustGreat, “I ordered Pizza Hut”, in SG Talk:

Forms

Synonyms

is it

wikipedia: Colloquial Singaporean English

or not en · X · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio

Meanings

1. Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened.
2. A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated.
   • "I bet the green car will make it unscathed!" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. "Or not," she sighed.

Forms

Relateds

on second thought