or not

See also: ornot

English

Alternative forms

• anot, ornot (Singapore)

Etymology 1

Influenced by Chinese 是不是 (shìbùshì, “whether or not”), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with 不, 無／无, 唔 and other dialectal synonyms.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): [ɔ˨ nɔt˨], [ə.nɔt˨]

Particle

or not

1. (Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement.
   • 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:

     You want to go see snow or not, Ma?

   • 2020 January 26, JustGreat, “I ordered Pizza Hut”, in SG Talk‎^[1]:

     Can or not ?

Usage notes

In contrast to most English dialects, where "or not" is only optionally appended to a yes-no question formed syntactically ("He called" → "Did he call?" → "Did he call or not?"), in Colloquial Singaporean English, "or not" functions as a final particle and forms a question by itself: "He got call" → "He got call or not?".

Synonyms

• is it

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• Audio (Mid-Atlantic US):

  (file)

Phrase

or not

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.

See also

• on second thought

Anagrams

• Orton, Troon, roton