Sinon in French: otherwise, or a useful plan B

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 9 October 2026 · About the library

Use sinon to offer another time, give a warning or change the subject. Practise short exchanges and recover the if not behind each alternative.

B1
12 phrases
3 situations
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In short

Sinon often means otherwise or if not: Réponds aujourd’hui ; sinon, nous choisirons une autre date. It can also offer a plan B: Sinon, on peut se parler demain. The earlier sentence tells you what the unspoken if not refers to.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

Two friends considering an alternative meeting place under a café awning as light rain falls. — Another plan can begin with sinon. Illustration: Atelier

Offer another time

If the first time is inconvenient, suggest a second one.

YouTu es libre vendredi soir ?Are you free on Friday evening?

Your friend or colleagueVendredi, je travaille jusqu’à vingt heures.On Friday, I’m working until eight.

YouSinon, on peut se voir samedi midi.Alternatively, we can meet on Saturday at lunchtime.

Your friend or colleagueSamedi midi, ça me va.Saturday lunchtime works for me.

Give a consequence

Here the if not refers to a missed action. The future tells you the next step.

YouTu peux confirmer avant jeudi ?Can you confirm before Thursday?

Your friend or colleagueJe vais essayer. Pourquoi jeudi ?I’ll try. Why Thursday?

YouNous devons fixer la date. Sinon, nous reporterons la réunion.We need to settle the date. Otherwise, we’ll postpone the meeting.

Your friend or colleagueD’accord, je te répondrai demain.All right, I’ll reply tomorrow.

Offer a gentler alternative

A conditional makes the alternative a suggestion.

Your friend or colleagueJe ne suis pas disponible cette semaine.I’m not available this week.

YouSinon, on pourrait en parler lundi prochain.Alternatively, we could talk about it next Monday.

Your friend or colleagueOui, après dix heures.Yes, after ten.

YouTrès bien. Je te rappelle lundi à dix heures et demie.Great. I’ll call you back on Monday at half past ten.

What does if not refer to?

Recover the missing condition

French opening	If not…	What follows
Tu es libre vendredi ? Sinon…	If Friday does not work…	Another day.
Confirme avant jeudi. Sinon…	If you do not confirm in time…	The meeting is postponed.
Tu peux m’appeler. Sinon…	If calling is inconvenient…	Another way to talk.

Sinon itself leaves the verb tense open. Compare Sinon, on attend (we wait), Sinon, on attendra (we will wait) and Sinon, on pourrait attendre (we could wait). Choose the verb form that fits what you mean. A full stop or semicolon gives the alternative a clear boundary.

What does sinon mean in French?

Sinon, comment s’est passée ta semaine ?

By the way, how was your week?

After finishing one topic, a speaker can use sinon to move to another. There may be no practical failed condition to recover here. Another distinct use appears in Qui peut nous aider, sinon toi ? — who can help us, if not you? The question singles someone out.