How to Say “But” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to express the English word “but” in Spanish is crucial for constructing complex sentences and conveying nuanced meanings. Spanish offers a variety of conjunctions and phrases to translate “but,” each with its own specific context and usage.

Mastering these alternatives enhances your ability to express contrast, opposition, and limitations effectively. This article provides a detailed exploration of the different ways to say “but” in Spanish, offering examples, usage rules, and practice exercises to help learners of all levels improve their fluency and accuracy.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently navigate the intricacies of Spanish conjunctions.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of “But” in Spanish
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of “But” in Spanish
  • Pero: The Most Common “But”
  • Sino: “But Rather” or “But Instead”
  • Sino que: Followed by a Verb
  • Mas: A More Formal “But”
  • Aunque: “Although” or “Even Though”
  • Sin embargo: “However” or “Nevertheless”
  • No obstante: “Notwithstanding”
  • Excepto: “Except” or “But” (Excluding)
• Examples
  • Pero Examples
  • Sino Examples
  • Sino que Examples
  • Mas Examples
  • Aunque Examples
  • Sin embargo Examples
  • No obstante Examples
  • Excepto Examples
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of “But” in Spanish

The English word “but” is primarily a conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has already been said. In Spanish, there isn’t a single direct equivalent; instead, several words and phrases convey similar meanings, each with slightly different nuances and contexts.

Understanding these nuances is key to accurate and effective communication.

The main Spanish translations of “but” include: pero, sino, sino que, mas, aunque, sin embargo, no obstante, and excepto. Each of these terms has specific uses, and choosing the correct one depends on the type of contrast being expressed. For instance, pero is a general “but,” while sino is used to correct a negative statement.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of sentences using “but” equivalents in Spanish often involves connecting two clauses. The choice of conjunction influences how these clauses relate to each other. For example, pero simply joins two contrasting ideas, whereas sino requires a preceding negative statement to introduce a corrected or alternative idea.

Here’s a general breakdown of sentence structures:

• Pero: [Clause 1] + pero + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea)]
• Sino: [Negative Clause 1] + sino + [Corrected Clause 2]
• Sino que: [Negative Clause 1] + sino que + [Clause 2 (with verb)]
• Mas: [Clause 1] + mas + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea, formal)]
• Aunque: Aunque + [Clause 1 (concession)] + [Clause 2 (main idea)] OR [Clause 2 (main idea)] + aunque + [Clause 1 (concession)]
• Sin embargo: [Clause 1] + sin embargo + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea)] OR Sin embargo, [Clause 1] + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea)]
• No obstante: [Clause 1] + no obstante + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea)] OR No obstante, [Clause 1] + [Clause 2 (contrasting idea)]
• Excepto: [General Statement] + excepto + [Exception]

Types and Categories of “But” in Spanish

Pero: The Most Common “But”

Pero is the most versatile and frequently used translation of “but” in Spanish. It expresses a simple contrast or opposition between two ideas. It doesn’t require any specific preceding context, making it suitable for a wide range of situations.

Sino: “But Rather” or “But Instead”

Sino is used to correct information in a negative statement. It connects a negative clause with a positive clause that provides the correct information. Crucially, sino cannot be used without a preceding negative statement.

Sino que: Followed by a Verb

Sino que is similar to sino but is used when the second clause contains a verb. It also requires a preceding negative statement and introduces a corrected clause with a conjugated verb.

Mas: A More Formal “But”

Mas is a more formal and literary equivalent of pero. While it expresses the same basic contrast, it is less common in everyday speech and more often found in written texts. It’s important to note that mas does not have an accent mark, unlike más (meaning “more”).

Aunque: “Although” or “Even Though”

Aunque translates to “although” or “even though” and introduces a concession or a statement that contrasts with the main idea. It can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

Sin embargo: “However” or “Nevertheless”

Sin embargo means “however” or “nevertheless” and is used to introduce a contrasting statement, often with a slightly stronger emphasis than pero. It can be placed after a period or within a sentence, set off by commas.

No obstante: “Notwithstanding”

No obstante is similar to sin embargo and also means “notwithstanding” or “nevertheless.” It’s generally considered more formal than sin embargo and is often used in legal or academic contexts.

Excepto: “Except” or “But” (Excluding)

Excepto means “except” and is used to indicate an exception to a general statement. It specifies something that is excluded from the general rule.

Examples

The following sections provide examples of each “but” equivalent in Spanish, illustrating their usage in different contexts.

Pero Examples

Pero is incredibly versatile. The table below shows how it can be used to connect clauses that express contrasting ideas, limitations, or unexpected outcomes.

English	Spanish
I want to go to the beach, but it’s raining.	Quiero ir a la playa, pero está lloviendo.
He is intelligent, but he is lazy.	Él es inteligente, pero es perezoso.
I studied a lot, but I didn’t pass the exam.	Estudié mucho, pero no aprobé el examen.
She is beautiful, but she is not very kind.	Ella es hermosa, pero no es muy amable.
I like coffee, but I prefer tea.	Me gusta el café, pero prefiero el té.
The movie was long, but interesting.	La película era larga, pero interesante.
I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.	Intenté llamarte, pero no respondiste.
He is rich, but he is not happy.	Él es rico, pero no es feliz.
I wanted to buy the car, but it was too expensive.	Quería comprar el coche, pero era demasiado caro.
She speaks Spanish well, but she makes some mistakes.	Ella habla español bien, pero comete algunos errores.
I like summer, but not the heat.	Me gusta el verano, pero no el calor.
He is a good player, but he needs to improve his defense.	Él es un buen jugador, pero necesita mejorar su defensa.
I would like to travel, but I don’t have money.	Me gustaría viajar, pero no tengo dinero.
She is very talented, but she doesn’t practice enough.	Ella es muy talentosa, pero no practica lo suficiente.
I want to learn to dance, but I’m not very coordinated.	Quiero aprender a bailar, pero no soy muy coordinado.
The food was delicious, but the service was slow.	La comida estaba deliciosa, pero el servicio era lento.
I like to read, but I don’t have much time.	Me gusta leer, pero no tengo mucho tiempo.
He is very kind, but sometimes he is a bit annoying.	Él es muy amable, pero a veces es un poco molesto.
I want to buy a house, but prices are very high.	Quiero comprar una casa, pero los precios son muy altos.
She is very intelligent, but she is also very humble.	Ella es muy inteligente, pero también es muy humilde.
I enjoy exercising, but sometimes I find it difficult to stay motivated.	Disfruto hacer ejercicio, pero a veces me resulta difícil mantenerme motivado.
He is a great friend, but he can be a bit stubborn at times.	Él es un gran amigo, pero a veces puede ser un poco terco.
I love to cook, but I hate doing the dishes.	Me encanta cocinar, pero odio lavar los platos.

Sino Examples

Sino is specifically used to correct a negative statement. Note how each Spanish sentence begins with a negation (e.g., no, nunca). The second part, introduced by sino, provides the correct or alternative information.

English	Spanish
I don’t want coffee, but tea.	No quiero café, sino té.
He is not from Spain, but from Argentina.	No es de España, sino de Argentina.
She doesn’t study English, but French.	Ella no estudia inglés, sino francés.
I didn’t buy a car, but a motorcycle.	No compré un coche, sino una moto.
It’s not cold, but hot.	No hace frío, sino calor.
This is not a pen, but a pencil.	Esto no es un bolígrafo, sino un lápiz.
I don’t want to go to the cinema, but to the theater.	No quiero ir al cine, sino al teatro.
He is not lazy, but tired.	No es perezoso, sino cansado.
She doesn’t live in Madrid, but in Barcelona.	Ella no vive en Madrid, sino en Barcelona.
I didn’t eat fish, but chicken.	No comí pescado, sino pollo.
It’s not black, but white.	No es negro, sino blanco.
He is not a doctor, but a lawyer.	No es médico, sino abogado.
She doesn’t speak German, but Italian.	Ella no habla alemán, sino italiano.
I didn’t read the book, but the magazine.	No leí el libro, sino la revista.
It’s not difficult, but easy.	No es difícil, sino fácil.
He is not sad, but angry.	No está triste, sino enojado.
She doesn’t like apples, but oranges.	No le gustan las manzanas, sino las naranjas.
I don’t need money, but help.	No necesito dinero, sino ayuda.
This is not a dream, but reality.	Esto no es un sueño, sino la realidad.
He is not a student, but a teacher.	No es un estudiante, sino un profesor.

Sino que Examples

Sino que is used to correct a negative statement, but unlike sino, it is followed by a clause containing a verb. The negative statement sets the stage for the correction, which is introduced by sino que.

English	Spanish
I don’t think it’s easy, but that it’s complicated.	No creo que sea fácil, sino que es complicado.
He doesn’t study, but he works.	No estudia, sino que trabaja.
She doesn’t sing, but she dances.	No canta, sino que baila.
I didn’t buy the car, but I rented it.	No compré el coche, sino que lo alquilé.
It’s not that I don’t want to, but I can’t.	No es que no quiera, sino que no puedo.
He doesn’t speak, but he writes.	No habla, sino que escribe.
She doesn’t eat meat, but she eats fish.	No come carne, sino que come pescado.
I didn’t see him, but I heard him.	No lo vi, sino que lo oí.
It’s not that I don’t like it, but I can’t afford it.	No es que no me guste, sino que no puedo pagarlo.
He doesn’t live here, but he visits often.	No vive aquí, sino que visita a menudo.
She doesn’t work in the office, but she works from home.	No trabaja en la oficina, sino que trabaja desde casa.
I didn’t finish the book, but I started another one.	No terminé el libro, sino que empecé otro.
It’s not that I don’t understand, but I don’t agree.	No es que no entienda, sino que no estoy de acuerdo.
He doesn’t play the guitar, but he plays the piano.	No toca la guitarra, sino que toca el piano.
She doesn’t watch TV, but she reads books.	No ve la televisión, sino que lee libros.
I didn’t call him, but I sent him a message.	No lo llamé, sino que le envié un mensaje.
It’s not that I don’t care, but I don’t know what to do.	No es que no me importe, sino que no sé qué hacer.
He doesn’t run, but he walks every day.	No corre, sino que camina todos los días.
She doesn’t write letters, but she sends emails.	No escribe cartas, sino que envía correos electrónicos.
I didn’t buy the shirt, but I bought the pants.	No compré la camisa, sino que compré los pantalones.

Mas Examples

Mas is a more formal alternative to pero. It’s less common in spoken Spanish but can be found in literature and formal writing. Note that mas does not carry an accent mark, unlike más, which means “more.”

English	Spanish
He wanted to go, but he couldn’t.	Quería ir, mas no pudo.
She is beautiful, but virtuous.	Es hermosa, mas virtuosa.
I tried, but failed.	Lo intenté, mas fracasé.
He is rich, but unhappy.	Es rico, mas infeliz.
They fought bravely, but they were defeated.	Lucharon valientemente, mas fueron derrotados.
The task was difficult, but not impossible.	La tarea era difícil, mas no imposible.
He spoke eloquently, but no one listened.	Habló elocuentemente, mas nadie escuchó.
She smiled, but her eyes were sad.	Sonrió, mas sus ojos estaban tristes.
I hoped for the best, but expected the worst.	Esperaba lo mejor, mas esperaba lo peor.
He promised to return, but he never did.	Prometió regresar, mas nunca lo hizo.
The city was beautiful, but dangerous.	La ciudad era hermosa, mas peligrosa.
She was talented, but lacked discipline.	Era talentosa, mas carecía de disciplina.
He offered his help, but it was refused.	Ofreció su ayuda, mas fue rechazada.
I trusted him, but he betrayed me.	Confié en él, mas me traicionó.
The journey was long, but rewarding.	El viaje fue largo, mas gratificante.

Aunque Examples

Aunque means “although” or “even though.” It introduces a clause that presents a concession or a contrasting idea, often implying that the main clause is true despite the information in the aunque clause. It can appear at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

English	Spanish
Although it’s raining, I’m going out.	Aunque está lloviendo, voy a salir.
I’m going out, although it’s raining.	Voy a salir, aunque está lloviendo.
Although he is tired, he is working.	Aunque está cansado, está trabajando.
He is working, although he is tired.	Está trabajando, aunque está cansado.
Although she is rich, she is not happy.	Aunque es rica, no es feliz.
She is not happy, although she is rich.	No es feliz, aunque es rica.
Although I studied a lot, I didn’t pass.	Aunque estudié mucho, no aprobé.
I didn’t pass, although I studied a lot.	No aprobé, aunque estudié mucho.
Although it’s expensive, I want to buy it.	Aunque es caro, quiero comprarlo.
I want to buy it, although it’s expensive.	Quiero comprarlo, aunque es caro.
Although he is old, he is very active.	Aunque es viejo, es muy activo.
He is very active, although he is old.	Es muy activo, aunque es viejo.
Although she doesn’t like it, she does it.	Aunque no le gusta, lo hace.
She does it, although she doesn’t like it.	Lo hace, aunque no le gusta.
Although I’m busy, I’ll help you.	Aunque estoy ocupado, te ayudaré.
I’ll help you, although I’m busy.	Te ayudaré, aunque estoy ocupado.

Sin embargo Examples

Sin embargo translates to “however” or “nevertheless.” It’s used to introduce a statement that contrasts with the preceding one, often with a stronger emphasis than pero. It can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or within a sentence, set off by commas.

English	Spanish
It was raining; however, we went out.	Estaba lloviendo; sin embargo, salimos.
It was raining. We, however, went out.	Estaba lloviendo. Nosotros, sin embargo, salimos.
He is very intelligent; however, he is lazy.	Es muy inteligente; sin embargo, es perezoso.
He is very intelligent. He, however, is lazy.	Es muy inteligente. Él, sin embargo, es perezoso.
She studied a lot; however, she failed.	Estudió mucho; sin embargo, suspendió.
She studied a lot. She, however, failed.	Estudió mucho. Ella, sin embargo, suspendió.
I like coffee; however, I prefer tea.	Me gusta el café; sin embargo, prefiero el té.
I like coffee. I, however, prefer tea.	Me gusta el café. Yo, sin embargo, prefiero el té.
The movie was long; however, interesting.	La película era larga; sin embargo, interesante.
The movie was long. It, however, was interesting.	La película era larga. Ella, sin embargo, fue interesante.
He is rich; however, he is not happy.	Es rico; sin embargo, no es feliz.
He is rich. He, however, is not happy.	Es rico. Él, sin embargo, no es feliz.
She speaks Spanish well; however, she makes mistakes.	Ella habla español bien; sin embargo, comete errores.
She speaks Spanish well. She, however, makes mistakes.	Ella habla español bien. Ella, sin embargo, comete errores.
I wanted to buy it; however, it was too expensive.	Quería comprarlo; sin embargo, era demasiado caro.
I wanted to buy it. It, however, was too expensive.	Quería comprarlo. Él, sin embargo, era demasiado caro.

No obstante Examples

No obstante, similar to sin embargo, means “notwithstanding” or “nevertheless.” It’s considered more formal and is often used in legal or academic contexts to introduce a contrasting idea or limitation.

English	Spanish
The law is clear; notwithstanding, there are exceptions.	La ley es clara; no obstante, hay excepciones.
The law is clear. Notwithstanding, there are exceptions.	La ley es clara. No obstante, hay excepciones.
He failed the exam; notwithstanding, he didn’t give up.	Reprobó el examen; no obstante, no se rindió.
He failed the exam. Notwithstanding, he didn’t give up.	Reprobó el examen. No obstante, no se rindió.
The evidence was weak; notwithstanding, the jury convicted him.	La evidencia era débil; no obstante, el jurado lo condenó.
The evidence was weak. Notwithstanding, the jury convicted him.	La evidencia era débil. No obstante, el jurado lo condenó.
The project was delayed; notwithstanding, it was eventually completed.	El proyecto se retrasó; no obstante, finalmente se completó.
The project was delayed. Notwithstanding, it was eventually completed.	El proyecto se retrasó. No obstante, finalmente se completó.
The weather was bad; notwithstanding, they went hiking.	El clima era malo; no obstante, fueron de excursión.
The weather was bad. Notwithstanding, they went hiking.	El clima era malo. No obstante, fueron de excursión.

Excepto Examples

Excepto means “except” and is used to indicate an exception to a general statement. It specifies something that is excluded from the general rule or category being discussed.

English	Spanish
Everyone came to the party except John.	Todos vinieron a la fiesta, excepto Juan.
I like all fruits except bananas.	Me gustan todas las frutas, excepto los plátanos.
All the students passed the exam except one.	Todos los estudiantes aprobaron el examen, excepto uno.
The store is open every day except Sunday.	La tienda está abierta todos los días, excepto el domingo.
I eat everything except spicy food.	Como de todo, excepto la comida picante.
Everyone agreed except him.	Todos estuvieron de acuerdo, excepto él.
All the books are new except this one.	Todos los libros son nuevos, excepto este.
We visit all the cities except this one.	Visitamos todas las ciudades, excepto esta.
I know all the answers except the last one.	Sé todas las respuestas, excepto la última.
All the employees are here except Maria.	Todos los empleados están aquí, excepto María.

Usage Rules

The correct usage of “but” equivalents in Spanish depends heavily on the context and the intended meaning. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

• Pero: Use for simple contrasts and oppositions. It’s the most common and versatile option.
• Sino: Use only after a negative statement to correct information. The second clause should not contain a verb.
• Sino que: Use after a negative statement to correct information when the second clause contains a verb.
• Mas: Use in formal or literary contexts as a substitute for pero. Remember it doesn’t have an accent mark.
• Aunque: Use to introduce a concession or a statement that contrasts with the main idea. Can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.
• Sin embargo and No obstante: Use to introduce a contrasting statement with a stronger emphasis than pero. Can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or within a sentence, set off by commas. No obstante is more formal.
• Excepto: Use to indicate an exception to a general statement.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using “but” equivalents in Spanish:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
No quiero café, pero té.	No quiero café, sino té.	Pero cannot be used to correct a negative statement. Use sino instead.
Quiero ir, más no puedo.	Quiero ir, pero no puedo.	While grammatically correct, mas is overly formal for everyday conversation.
Aunque está lloviendo, pero voy a salir.	Aunque está lloviendo, voy a salir.	Using both aunque and pero is redundant. Use only aunque.
Estudié mucho, sino no aprobé.	Estudié mucho, pero no aprobé.	Sino is used to correct a negative statement, not to express a simple contrast.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate “but” equivalent in Spanish (pero, sino, sino que, mas, aunque, sin embargo, no obstante, excepto):

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, exploring the nuances of subjunctive mood usage with aunque and the subtle differences between sin embargo and no obstante can provide a deeper understanding. Additionally, analyzing literary texts to observe how Spanish authors employ these conjunctions can offer valuable insights.

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering the various ways to say “but” in Spanish is essential for expressing complex ideas and conveying subtle nuances. By understanding the specific contexts in which to use pero, sino, sino que, mas, aunque, sin embargo, no obstante, and excepto, you can significantly enhance your fluency and accuracy in Spanish. Practice using these conjunctions in different contexts to solidify your understanding and improve your ability to communicate effectively.