"발 아니면 팔?"
Translation:foot or arm?
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The difference between ㅂ and ㅍ is the same difference between the Ps in spat (ㅂ) and pat (ㅍ). The latter has aspiration (more forceful with puffs of air). If you place your hand in front of your mouth and try saying spat and pat repeatedly you'll feel the difference.
A similar difference exists between stop (ㄷ) vs top (ㅌ) and skill (ㄱ) vs kill (ㅋ).
Also, fun fact, as the first letter of a word P/T/K in English sound like ㅍ/ㅌ/ㅋ but in Spanish they sound like ㅂ/ㄷ/ㄱ. You can even notice this difference in how each language calls each letter (피/티/케이 vs 베/데/가). As a native speaker of both this is one of the ways I identify Spanish accents in English and English accents in Spanish.
But Koreans generally hear English P/T/K as ㅍ/ㅌ/ㅋ even when following S. For example, "sport" is 스포츠, not 스보츠 or 스뽀츠.
Both 또는 and 아니면 mean "or" but 아니면 literally means "if not" so it can be used for slightly different emphasis. I think 또는 is also used more frequently in writing.
In my experience 아니면 puts preference to the first object. So like if someone asked what you want to eat you could say 피자 아니면 고기 implying that you want pizza but if not (perhaps if that's not an option) meat is also acceptable. Using 또는 feels like equal preference is given to both options and is more of a neutral "or".
It would be like two words that sound similar in your own language like bear and pear. Most of the time you can distinguish the two sounds, but depending on how fast someone speaks it or the context, it could be confusing.
This must be the source of many jokes and puns. At least I hope that's the case.
Most important lesson I have ever come across on Duolingo....maybe the most confusing one too.
Is 아니면 a common word to use for "or"? If not, then what should I use (for casual conversations)?
I usually use (이)나 and 거나 ((이)나 is for nouns while 거나 is for verbs/adjectives.) (나 is for nouns ending in a vowel while 이나 is for nouns ending in a consonant) (거나 is directly attached to the stem of a verb/adjective)