# Hoặc: A or B (statement) in Vietnamese (A2)

> You know hay for "or" in a question: Anh uống trà hay cà phê? When you aren't asking anyone to choose, only saying there are two possibilities, the word…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hoac-or/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**A or B (statement)**

Pattern: `[A] + hoặc (là) + [B]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: hoac

Variants:

- hoặc là + [A], hoặc là + [B] (either … or)

You know *hay* for "or" in a question: *Anh uống trà hay cà phê?* When you aren't asking anyone to choose, only saying there are two possibilities, the word is *hoặc*: *Tuần sau em rảnh thứ ba hoặc thứ năm.* Next week I'm free on Tuesday or Thursday. In speech it's often *hoặc là*.

*Hoặc* is the usual "or" in writing, on forms and in instructions: *Thanh toán bằng tiền mặt hoặc thẻ.* Pay by cash or card. In conversation people also use *hay* in statements, especially before *cũng được* (either is fine): *Thứ bảy hay chủ nhật cũng được.*

For "either … or", put *hoặc là* before each choice: *Hoặc là đi taxi, hoặc là đi bộ.* Either we take a taxi or we walk. Here *hoặc* can't be swapped for *hay*.

The one thing *hoặc* can't do is ask. A question with *hoặc* sounds wrong to a Vietnamese ear, so when you want someone to choose, use *hay*.

## Examples

- Tuần sau em rảnh thứ ba hoặc thứ năm. — Next week I'm free on Tuesday or Thursday.
- Em gọi điện hoặc nhắn tin cho chị cũng được. — You can call or text me, either is fine.
- Thanh toán bằng tiền mặt hoặc thẻ. — Pay by cash or card.
- Hết xe buýt rồi. Hoặc là đi taxi, hoặc là đi bộ. — The buses have stopped. Either we take a taxi or we walk.

## Words in this pattern

- [hoặc](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/hoac-or/#s_hoac_or): or

## Compare

- [Or in questions: A hay B?](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hay-or-question/): A or B?
- [Or else: kẻo](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/keo-or-else/): or else (something bad)

Previous in Linking ideas: [Or else: kẻo](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/keo-or-else/)
Next in Linking ideas: [So as to (spoken): verb + mà + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ma-purpose/)

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