Expressing Doubt with "то ли ..., то ли ..."
When your memory is a bit foggy or you can't quite trust your senses, you might struggle to distinguish between two possibilities. To express this specific kind of uncertainty in Russian, use the paired conjunction то ли ..., то ли ... (whether... or... / either... or...).
Unlike a simple или ... или ... (which offers a clear choice between options), то ли ..., то ли ... emphasizes your own confusion or your inability to tell which option is actually true.
It pairs perfectly with words of unclear perception, such as remembering vaguely (смутно) what someone was muttering (бормотать), or failing to catch what you heard (расслышать) well enough to know if it was said in earnest (всерьёз).
| I vaguely remember whether he was muttering something or singing. | Я смутно помню, то ли он бормотал что-то, то ли пел. |
| I didn't catch whether he said it as a joke or seriously. | Я не расслышал, то ли он сказал это в шутку, то ли всерьёз. |
You will also see it used when peering into the distance (вдали) at a flickering (мерцать) light or spot (пятно), where your eyes might play tricks on you.
| In the distance, either a yellow spot or a light in a window was flickering. | Вдали мерцало то ли жёлтое пятно, то ли свет в окне. |
Dreams and Reality
Because it carries such a strong sense of ambiguity, то ли ..., то ли ... is often used to describe surreal or disorienting situations. A classic pairing contrasts being asleep with being awake, using the adverb наяву (in reality / waking life). You might use it when trying to make sense of a strange figure or the unexpected sound of weeping (плач).
| I was scared: I heard weeping either in a dream or in reality. | Мне было страшно: я слышал плач то ли во сне, то ли наяву. |
| Either in a dream or in reality, a strange figure approached me. | То ли во сне, то ли наяву ко мне подошла странная фигура. |
Forgotten Facts
This structure isn't just for spooky scenarios or sensory confusion; it is equally useful in everyday conversation when you simply cannot recall a specific fact. The conjunction connects two matching grammatical structures—so if the main verb requires the instrumental case, both of the uncertain options will take the instrumental case.
| He wanted to become either a doctor or an actor. | Он хотел стать то ли врачом, то ли актёром. |
