Else

Part of Speech

Adverb, Conjunction, Pronoun, Adjective

Pronunciation

/ɛls/

Definitions

• Adverb: In addition; besides. ("What else do you need?")
• Adverb: In a different or alternative way. ("Try something else.")
• Conjunction: Used after 'or' to indicate alternatives. ("Do it now, or else.")
• Pronoun: Other people or things. ("Ask someone else.")
• Adjective: Different; other. ("If nothing else works, try this.")

Usage Examples

• "Would you like anything else?"
• "If you don't study, you’ll fail the test, or else work twice as hard later."
• "Everyone else has left the party."
• "Try using something else to fix it."

Etymology

Derived from Old English "elles" meaning "otherwise, besides, in another way," with roots in Proto-Germanic *aljaz, meaning "other, another."

Synonyms

• Otherwise
• Additionally
• Alternatively
• Different

Antonyms

• Same
• Identical

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /ɛls/
• American English: /ɛls/

Historical Usage

The word "else" has been in use since Old English times, often indicating an alternative, additional, or different option.

Cultural Nuances

The word "else" is frequently used in conditional statements, choices, and logical constructs in various languages and has importance in programming languages as well.

More Information

"Else" is commonly used in both casual and formal speech, as well as in logical expressions in mathematics and programming, where it defines alternative conditions.