ಇಲ್ಲವೆ

Kannada

Etymology

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /illɐʋe/

Conjunction

ಇಲ್ಲವೆ • (illave)

or
ನನಗೆ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕೊಡು ಇಲ್ಲವೆ ಸಾವನ್ನು ಕೊಡು!
nanage svatantryavannu koḍu illave sāvannu koḍu!
Give me liberty or give me death!

Usage notes

This conjunction is an exclusive "or," similar to "aut" in Latin. In "give me liberty or give me death," for example, there are two incompatible alternatives.

It should be noted that as in all cases in Kannada where there is disjunction in the subject, the subject still governs a plural verb. For example: "ಅವನು ಇಲ್ಲವೆ ಅವಳು ಹೋಗುವರು" ("he or she will go").