what kind of words are and and or

Words like “and” and “or” are conjunctions , more specifically coordinating conjunctions in English grammar. They link words, phrases, or clauses that are on the same grammatical level (like “cats and dogs” or “stay or go”).

What “and” is

• “And” is a coordinating conjunction that shows addition or combination: it joins things that are being taken together, e.g. “bread and butter,” “she sang and danced.”
• It often connects:
  • Nouns: “Tom and Jerry”
  • Verbs: “sit and listen”
  • Phrases/clauses: “She called me, and I answered.”

What “or” is

• “Or” is a coordinating conjunction that shows an alternative or choice, e.g. “tea or coffee,” “Go now, or you’ll be late.”
• It is used when:
  • You must choose between options
  • The speaker is unsure which option applies (“It might rain or snow.”)

The short grammar label

If you need a quick school-style answer:

• “And” = coordinating conjunction (additive)
• “Or” = coordinating conjunction (alternative)

So, the kind of words “and” and “or” are is: coordinating conjunctions.