eller

eller is a coordinating conjunction meaning "or" in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. It connects two or more elements to present alternatives within a sentence and is a fundamental part of everyday syntax in the three languages. The form is identical across Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, reflecting their shared North Germanic heritage.

In use, eller appears in questions and statements to offer choices. For example, in Swedish you can ask, "Vill du ha te eller kaffe?" meaning "Do you want tea or coffee?" and in Norwegian or Danish you would have a similar structure. A common fixed expression is "antingen … eller" in Swedish, meaning "either … or." These patterns are standard in informal and formal writing alike, though the exact word order and punctuation can vary with emphasis and sentence type.

Pronunciation and stylistic notes vary by language. While the spelling is the same in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, speakers will render the word with language-specific phonology and intonation. In written form, eller is a neutral conjunction and does not carry strong regional stigma; it is appropriate in both everyday dialogue and formal prose.

Historically, the conjunction belongs to the common stock of North Germanic languages and has cognates across related Scandinavian varieties. It is seldom used outside these languages in a general sense, though it appears in translations or bilingual texts to render the sense of "or." See also antin or related comparative conjunctions in Scandinavian grammar.