else
gb/ˈɛls/ us/ˈɛls/
A2
English
~ 500
még, más, különben
A2
1
még
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] else
Do you want anything else with your coffee?
Kérsz még valamit a kávéd mellé?
Is there anyone else coming to the meeting?
Jön még valaki a megbeszélésre?
We went somewhere else for lunch.
She had nothing else to say.
I can't think of anything else right now.
Learner examples
Do you want something else?
Kérsz még valamit?
Is there someone else here?
Van még itt valaki?
We went somewhere else.
I have nothing else.
He wants something else.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'else' with 'also'. 'Else' usually means 'different' or 'additional option', while 'also' means 'in addition' without implying difference.
Meaning
in addition; besides
Collocations
someone else
|anything else
|nothing else
|somewhere else
|something else
Synonyms
besides (Implies adding to what was mentioned, often used interchangeably but can sound slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
same (Indicates no difference or addition, opposite to 'else' meaning 'different'.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to talk about something more or different from what you said before.
Used to indicate something different or additional to what has already been mentioned.
A2
2
más
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] else
I thought it was John, but it was someone else.
Azt hittem, John az, de valaki más volt.
We should try somewhere else for dinner.
Próbáljunk meg máshol vacsorázni.
If you can't do it, I'll ask someone else.
She wanted a red dress, but took something else instead.
There's nothing else I can do.
Learner examples
It is someone else.
Az valaki más.
We went somewhere else.
Máshová mentünk.
I want something else.
Ask someone else.
He lives somewhere else.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'else' with 'other'. Remember: 'else' is used after words like someone, somewhere, anything.
Meaning
different; instead
Collocations
someone else
|somewhere else
|something else
Synonyms
other (Means 'different', but often used as an adjective rather than an adverb.)
Antonyms
same (Indicates no difference; opposite of 'else' meaning 'different'.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to talk about a different person or thing from the one you said before.
Used to indicate something or someone different from the one already mentioned.
B1
3
különben
B1
Usage pattern:
[command/statement], else [result]
You need to leave now, else you'll miss the train.
Most kell indulnod, különben lekésed a vonatot.
Pay attention, else you might make a mistake.
Figyelj oda, különben hibázhatsz.
We have to hurry, else we'll be late.
Finish your homework, else you can't go out.
Wear a coat, else you'll catch a cold.
Learner examples
Hurry up, else we will be late.
Siess, különben elkésünk.
Study hard, else you will fail.
Tanulj szorgalmasan, különben megbuksz.
Eat now, else you will be hungry.
Come early, else we will start without you.
Listen carefully, else you will not understand.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes place 'else' incorrectly in the sentence. In this meaning, it usually comes after a command or statement and before the consequence.
Meaning
if not; otherwise
Collocations
hurry up, else you'll be late
|do it now, else you'll forget
Synonyms
otherwise ('Otherwise' is slightly more formal and flexible in sentence position.)
Themes
daily life
|warnings
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to say what will happen if something is not true or not done.
Used after a statement to indicate the consequence if that statement is not true or not followed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
else
IPA
GB/ˈɛls/
US/ˈɛls/
Syllables & stress
else (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (else)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: else
- Plural: elses
Word family
Forms
elses
noun
Core family
elsewhere
adverb B1
Expressions
anything else
1/ˈɛniθˌɪŋ ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
any other thing or matter
Another thing or matter that is different or extra from what we said before.
Examples
- Would you like anything else with that?
- Do you need anything else before we go?
someone else
1/sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
a different person
Another person who is different from the one we talked about before.
Examples
- I thought you were John, but you're someone else.
- Can I speak to someone else about this problem?
somewhere else
1/sˈʌmwˌɛɹ ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
a different place
A place that is different from the one we talked about before.
Examples
- Let's go somewhere else for dinner.
- They moved the meeting somewhere else.
or else
1/ˈɔɹ ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
'If not' with implied threat/result
Used to say what bad thing will happen if something is not done.
Examples
- You'd better finish your work, or else you'll get a bad grade.
- You had better finish your work, or else you'll be in trouble.
- Put on your coat, or else you'll catch a cold.
- We need to leave now, or else we'll miss the start of the show.
something else
1/sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
informal
A different thing than before mentioned one
A different thing from the one already talked about.
Examples
- If you don’t like this shirt, I can show you something else.
- We need to try something else if this doesn’t work.
something else
2/sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈɛls/
fixed phrase
a different or extra thing
A thing that is different from what has been talked about before, or extra to it.
Examples
- I don't want tea. Give me something else.
- They offered me a job, but I wanted something else.