Expressing "Otherwise": وگرنه
When giving health or safety advice, you often need to explain the negative consequences of ignoring instructions. To say "otherwise" or "or else" in everyday Farsi, use وگرنه.
This word connects a command, advice, or obligation directly to the outcome of not following it.
| otherwise / or else | وگرنهvagarna |
| This disease is contagious; you must stay in quarantine, otherwise everyone will get sick. | این بیماری واگیردار است؛ شما باید در قرنطینه بمانید، وگرنه همه بیمار میشوند.in bimâri vâgirdâr ast; shomâ bâyad dar gharantine bemânid, vagarna hame bimâr mishavand. |
| Do not touch this toxic plant without gloves, otherwise you will get hurt. | بدون دستکش به این گیاه سمی دست نزنید، وگرنه آسیب میبینید.bedun-e dastkesh be in giâh-e sammi dast nazanid, vagarna âsib mibinid. |
The Formal "Otherwise": در غیر این صورت
For a slightly more formal tone—often used in official medical instructions, safety warnings, or rules—you can use در غیر این صورت.
Literally translating to "in a case other than this," it functions exactly the same as وگرنه.
| otherwise / in that case not (formal) | در غیر این صورتdar gheyr-e in surat |
| The gas is toxic, so turn on the ventilation; otherwise, you will die. | گاز سمی است، پس تهویه را روشن کنید؛ در غیر این صورت میمیرید.gâz sammi ast, pas tahviye râ roshan konid; dar gheyre in soorat mimirid. |
| You must be cautious in this dangerous place; otherwise, you will see its consequences. | شما باید در این مکان خطرناک محتاط باشید؛ در غیر این صورت عواقب آن را میبینید.shomâ bâyad dar in makân-e khatarnâk mohtât bâshid; dar gheyre in soorat avâghebe ân râ mibinid. |
The Verb Mood for Consequences
Notice the verb tense in the second half of these sentences. The verb following both وگرنه and در غیر این صورت takes the regular present indicative (or future) form.
Because you are stating a realistic consequence or a factual warning, the verb reflects what will happen, rather than using a hypothetical subjunctive mood.
| I am coughing; give the medicine quickly, otherwise the disease will worsen. | من دارم سرفه میکنم؛ دارو را سریع بدهید، وگرنه بیماری تشدید میشود.man dâram sorfe mikonam; dâru râ sari' bedahid, vagarna bimâri tashdid mishavad. |
| The hospital must have good ventilation, otherwise the nurses will get sick. | بیمارستان باید تهویهی خوبی داشته باشد، در غیر این صورت پرستارها بیمار میشوند.bimârestân bâyad tahviye-ye khubi dâshte bâshad, dar gheyre in surat parastârhâ bimâr mishavand. |