The difference between the linking words OPPURE and OVVERO

In this Italian learning podcast I'm gonna talk about Italian linking words. More specifically, I'm gonna explain the difference between the conjunction "OPPURE" and the conjunction "OVVERO".

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If you learned Italian as a foreign language, you've come to the right place!

By watching this brief video lesson, you will learn the difference between the conjunctions "oppure" and "ovvero".

I'm Luca. Welcome to my channel! Welcome!

Actually, this podcast is meant as a reply to a request I received a while ago from one of my subscribers. This person specifically asked me to explain the difference between "oppure" and "ovvero".

Let's move on to the difference between "oppure" and "evvero"!

Let's move on to the difference between "oppure" and "ovvero"!

Let's start from the conjunction "oppure", which is easier to explain!

"Oppure" has the same meaning as the conjunction "o". It is one of the so called disjunctive or alternative conjunctions. They are called this way because they are used to introduce an alternative between two words, ideas or phrases.

For example, I could say: "Lo compri subito oppure vuoi pensarci?"

As you can see, in this case the linking word "oppure" introduces an alternative. There are two options: you either buy it right away, or think about that.

Another example could be: "Nel tè vuoi il limone oppure lo zucchero?"

No, sorry, my bad!

"Nel tè vuoi il limone oppure il latte?"

Again, "oppure" introduces an alternative: that is, you either choose lemon or choose milk. Understood: you can't get both.

Another example could be: "Preferisci andare oggi oppure domani"?

In this case too "oppure" introduces an alternative. In particular, one option excludes the other, because if you prefer to go today, you clearly don't prefer to go tomorrow.

In all three examples I gave you, I could easily use the conjunction "o". That is, I could say: "Lo compri  subito o preferisci pensarci?"

In a similar fashion, I could say: "Nel tè vuoi il limone o il latte?".

Similarly, I could say: "Preferisci andare oggi o domani?".

With respect to meaning, between the sentences with "oppure" and those with "o" there's actually no difference.

According to some, though, "oppure" is a stronger version of "o". Meaning that, according to some, "oppure" has a stronger disjunctive meaning, that is, it gives more emphasis to the fact that one option excludes the other.

The conjunction "oppure" can also be used in a slightly different way. For example, I could say: "Devi iniziare a studiare seriamente, oppure non raggiungerai mai il livello avanzato di italiano".

In this case "oppure" means "if not" (or else), "otherwise".

Again, if I wanted, I could use "o". I could say: "Devi iniziare a studiare seriamente, o non raggiungerai mai il livello avanzato di italiano".

Alright! Let's move on to the connective word "ovvero"!

It's very close in meaning to the conjunction "cioè".

Let's do an example right away! I could say: "La situazione è critica, cioè molto difficile".

I could say that, or I could use "ovvero" and say: "La situazione è critica, ovvero molto difficile".

In this case the word "ovvero" doesn't introduce an option, but it specifies what has been said.

Basically, the conjunction "ovvero" introduces a clarification made using other words. It is used to put what has just been said in a different way, or to provide clarification.

Another example could be: "Lavora come freelancer, ovvero come libero professionista". Again, "ovvero" introduces a clarification.

In this case too, instead of "ovvero" I could use the conjunction "cioè" and say: "Lavora come freelancer, cioè come libero professionista".

I'll give you another example!

"Però c'è una cosa che non capisco, ovvero come hai fatto a convincerlo".

So here the speaker first says "c'è una cosa che non capisco", then they use "ovvero" and provide clarification, that is, they specify what exactly they don't understand.

Another example could be this: "In questa video lezione volevo parlare della preposizione in assoluto più difficile, ovvero della preposizione da".

Here's yet another example: "In questo video volevo parlare delle preposizioni semplici, ovvero delle preposizioni di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra, fra".

Well, I hope these examples are clear!

Anyways, keep in mind that, in today's Italian, the conjunction "ovvero" is mostly used to provide clarification. However, this only applies to spoken Italian.

In formal and bureaucratic writing, it can also be used as a disjunctive conjunction.

For example, in a contract or law,  you may read sentences such as: "Queste sanzioni si applicheranno a chiunque danneggi i beni dell'azienda, rimuova gli stessi dal luogo di lavoro, ovvero usi gli stessi in modo improprio".

Well, in this case the conjunction "ovvero" doesn't have its usual meaning, but it has a meaning similar to that of the conjunction "oppure".

Like I said, though, this use of the conjunction "ovvero" can only be found in formal or bureaucratic language.

So the conjunction "ovvero" is used this way only in official documents, agreements, laws, policies, etc.

I hope that the difference between "ovvero" and "oppure" is clear!

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