# Hay: A or B? in Vietnamese (A1)

> To offer a choice in a question, put hay between the options: Anh uống trà hay cà phê? Would you like tea or coffee?

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-or-question/ · Updated 2026-11-08

**A or B?**

Pattern: `[A] + hay (là) + [B]?`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Situations: [Shops and services](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?use=service)

Variants:

- hay là (more conversational)

To offer a choice in a question, put *hay* between the options: *Anh uống trà hay cà phê?* Would you like tea or coffee? Nothing else is needed at the end: the choice itself makes it a question, so there's no *không*.

The options can be single words or longer phrases: *Mình đi xe máy hay đi taxi?* Shall we go by motorbike or by taxi? You'll often hear *hay là*: *Ăn ở đây hay là mang về?* For here or to go? It sounds a little more conversational, but it's fine in writing too.

The answer simply picks one: *Cà phê.* or *Cho anh cà phê.*

In a statement, "or" is often *hoặc*, especially in writing: *Mình gặp thứ bảy hoặc chủ nhật.* We can meet on Saturday or Sunday. *Hoặc* doesn't make a question, though; to ask someone to choose, use *hay*.

*Hay* has other meanings too. Between the person and a single verb, with no second option after it, it's "often": *Em hay đi bộ.* I often walk. Describing a movie, a song or a book, it's "good" or "interesting": *Bộ phim này rất hay.* This movie is really good. After a verb, it's "well": *Cô ấy hát rất hay.* She sings very well. When *hay* joins two options, as in *đi xe máy hay đi taxi*, it's always "or".

## A common mistake

✗ Anh uống trà hoặc cà phê?

✓ Anh uống trà hay cà phê?

*Hoặc* is "or" in statements. To ask someone to choose, use *hay*.

## Examples

- Anh uống trà hay cà phê? — Would you like tea or coffee?
- Cho anh ly cà phê sữa. — A coffee with milk for me, please.
- Anh ăn ở đây hay mang về ạ? — For here or to go?
- Mình đi xe máy hay đi taxi? — Shall we go by motorbike or by taxi?

## Words in this pattern

- [hay](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/hay-or/#lx_hay_or): or

## Compare

- [Or in statements: A hoặc B](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hoac-or/): A or B (statement)
- [Often: hay before the verb, and có hay … không?](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-often/): often

Previous in Asking questions: [Nobody, nothing, nowhere: không … ai / gì / đâu](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/qword-khong-nobody/)
Next in Asking questions: [Polite yes dạ / vâng, casual yes ừ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/da-vang-yes/)

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