あるいは

あるいは · aruiha · JLPT N3 · conjunction

or

Sounds like are we, huh? A question that leaves options open: or, perhaps

Etymology: ある (to exist) + old emphatic particle い + topic particle は, roughly 'or if it is so'. The は is read wa, so you say aruiwa. In writing it joins alternatives (A あるいは B) or hedges a guess (perhaps).

More Japanese words · How Japanese works