French word

soit

Pronunciation

IPA/swa/

Meaning

  • conjunctioneither

Example

Soit tu viens, soit tu restes.

Either you come or you stay.

Illustration for soit (either)

More examples

On peut décider soit maintenant, soit plus tard.

One can decide either now or later.

Core concept

A fork in a path where each branch is presented as a possible choice.

Common phrases

  • soit maintenant, soit plus tard

    either now or later

  • soit en famille, soit entre amis

    either with family or with friends

Similar words

ou: The common conjunction for presenting one option among several choices or possibilities.
ou bien: A conjunction clearly presenting one of two alternatives.
ou alors: A conjunction presenting another option or possible situation.

Definition in French

Introduit une alternative exprimant l'idée de «l'un ou l'autre», généralement placée avant chaque élément de la série («soit A, soit B»).

Word origin

French soit is a conjunction formed from the subjunctive form of être, continuing Old French seit and the Latin form sit.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, ou or ou bien often sounds more natural than the paired soit...soit... pattern, which can sound formal or carefully structured.

Other meanings

  • orconjunction

Word lists with this word