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Alternative

alternative

noun al-ter-na-TEE-ve Less Common
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Origin: from Latin alternare, 'to alternate'

Also means

option

Usage Note

Alternative takes the preposition zu for the thing it replaces: eine Alternative zum Auto ('an alternative to the car'). Unlike English, it does not imply 'unconventional'; for that sense Germans say alternativ as an adjective, as in alternative Energie.

Examples

"Es gibt keine bessere Alternative."

Natural Translation

There is no better alternative.

Literal Translation

It gives no better alternative.

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