Mastering conjunctions is crucial for fluency in any language, and Spanish is no exception. The word “but,” seemingly simple, has several translations in Spanish, each with its own nuance and usage.
Understanding these variations is essential for expressing contrasting ideas effectively and naturally. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the different ways to say “but” in Spanish, exploring their meanings, contexts, and grammatical rules.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use these conjunctions in your Spanish conversations and writing.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “But” in Spanish
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of “But” in Spanish
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of “But” in Spanish
The English word “but” is a conjunction that introduces a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has already been said. In Spanish, this simple conjunction is represented by several different words, each carrying slightly different nuances and used in specific contexts. These words include pero, sino, sino que, aunque, mas, sin embargo, and no obstante. Understanding the subtle differences between these options is crucial for accurate and effective communication in Spanish.
The choice of which word to use depends on the type of contrast being expressed. For example, pero is the most common and versatile translation, used for general contrast. Sino is used to correct a previous negative statement. Aunque means “although” or “even though” and introduces a concession. Mastery of these conjunctions will significantly improve your ability to express complex ideas and nuances in Spanish.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of sentences using these “but” equivalents in Spanish is generally similar to English. The conjunction connects two clauses, often creating a compound sentence.
The word order is typically subject-verb-object, though variations can occur, especially with adverbs. The key difference lies in choosing the correct conjunction to accurately reflect the intended meaning.
Let’s examine the common structures:
- Pero: Clause 1 + pero + Clause 2 (simple contrast)
- Sino: Negative Clause 1 + sino + Clause 2 (correction of a negative statement)
- Sino que: Negative Clause 1 + sino que + Clause 2 (correction of a negative statement with a conjugated verb)
- Aunque: Aunque + Clause 1, Clause 2 (concession)
- Mas: Clause 1 + mas + Clause 2 (literary contrast – less common in modern speech)
- Sin embargo: Clause 1. Sin embargo, Clause 2 (formal contrast, often used in writing)
- No obstante: Clause 1. No obstante, Clause 2 (formal contrast, similar to “sin embargo”)
Understanding these basic structures will help you construct grammatically correct and meaningful sentences in Spanish. The following sections delve deeper into each type of “but” and provide more specific examples.
Types of “But” in Spanish
Spanish offers a variety of ways to express the concept of “but,” each tailored to specific contexts. This section explores the different options, providing detailed explanations and examples for each.
Pero
Pero is the most common and versatile translation of “but” in Spanish. It is used to express a general contrast or opposition between two ideas. It doesn’t necessarily imply a complete contradiction, but rather a qualification or limitation of the previous statement.
For example, “I like coffee, but I don’t like it with sugar” translates to “Me gusta el café, pero no me gusta con azúcar.” Here, pero introduces a limitation to the initial statement about liking coffee.
Sino
Sino is used to correct a previous negative statement. It means “but rather” or “but instead.” It’s crucial to remember that sino always follows a negative clause and introduces a contrasting positive statement. It connects two words, phrases, or clauses, not complete sentences that already have a verb.
For example, “I don’t want tea, but coffee” translates to “No quiero té, sino café.” The negative statement “I don’t want tea” is corrected with “but coffee.”
Sino que
Sino que serves the same function as sino but is used when the contrasting clause contains a conjugated verb. In other words, sino que connects two clauses, each with its own verb.
For example, “I don’t want to eat at home, but rather I want to go to a restaurant” translates to “No quiero comer en casa, sino que quiero ir a un restaurante.” The contrasting clause “I want to go to a restaurant” contains the verb “quiero,” necessitating the use of sino que.
Aunque
Aunque translates to “although,” “even though,” or “even if.” It introduces a concessive clause, meaning a clause that expresses something that contrasts with the main clause but does not prevent it from being true. The order of the clauses can be reversed, but a comma is typically used when aunque begins the sentence.
For example, “Although it’s raining, I’m going for a walk” translates to “Aunque está lloviendo, voy a dar un paseo” or “Voy a dar un paseo, aunque está lloviendo.“
Mas
Mas is an archaic form of pero and also translates to “but.” It is rarely used in modern spoken Spanish but can be found in literature and formal writing. It does not carry a tilde (accent mark) to distinguish it from the adverb más (more).
For example, “I wanted to go, but I couldn’t” can be written as “Quería ir, mas no pude.” This usage is far less common than using pero.
Sin embargo
Sin embargo translates to “however,” “nevertheless,” or “nonetheless.” It is a more formal way of expressing contrast than pero and is often used in writing. It typically appears at the beginning of a clause or sentence, set off by commas or a period.
For example, “The weather was bad. However, we enjoyed the trip” translates to “El tiempo era malo. Sin embargo, disfrutamos del viaje.“
No obstante
No obstante is similar to sin embargo and also means “however” or “nonetheless.” It is also formal and primarily used in writing. Like sin embargo, it is typically placed at the beginning of a clause or sentence.
For example, “The price was high. Nevertheless, we bought it” translates to “El precio era alto. No obstante, lo compramos.“
Examples
This section provides extensive examples of each type of “but” in Spanish, illustrating their usage in various contexts. Each subsection contains a table with numerous examples to help solidify your understanding.
Pero Examples
The following table provides examples of pero used to express general contrast.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I am tired, but I have to work. | Estoy cansado, pero tengo que trabajar. |
| She is intelligent, but she is lazy. | Ella es inteligente, pero es perezosa. |
| The movie was long, but interesting. | La película fue larga, pero interesante. |
| I like to dance, but I don’t like salsa. | Me gusta bailar, pero no me gusta la salsa. |
| He studies a lot, but he doesn’t get good grades. | Él estudia mucho, pero no saca buenas notas. |
| The car is old, but it still works. | El coche es viejo, pero todavía funciona. |
| The food was delicious, but expensive. | La comida estaba deliciosa, pero cara. |
| I want to travel, but I don’t have money. | Quiero viajar, pero no tengo dinero. |
| The book is interesting, but difficult to read. | El libro es interesante, pero difícil de leer. |
| I like summer, but I hate the heat. | Me gusta el verano, pero odio el calor. |
| She is very kind, but she is also stubborn. | Ella es muy amable, pero también es terca. |
| He speaks Spanish well, but he makes some mistakes. | Él habla español bien, pero comete algunos errores. |
| The house is beautiful, but it is too far from the city. | La casa es hermosa, pero está demasiado lejos de la ciudad. |
| I want to buy it, but it’s not in my budget. | Quiero comprarlo, pero no está en mi presupuesto. |
| The lesson was long, but informative. | La lección fue larga, pero informativa. |
| I like chocolate, but I prefer vanilla. | Me gusta el chocolate, pero prefiero la vainilla. |
| This exercise is easy, but requires concentration. | Este ejercicio es fácil, pero requiere concentración. |
| I understand the theory, but I can’t apply it in practice. | Entiendo la teoría, pero no puedo aplicarla en la práctica. |
| The weather is nice, but there are too many mosquitoes. | El clima es agradable, pero hay demasiados mosquitos. |
| She is talented, but she doesn’t practice enough. | Ella tiene talento, pero no practica lo suficiente. |
| He is a great player, but sometimes he is arrogant. | Él es un gran jugador, pero a veces es arrogante. |
| I like this city, but it is very expensive. | Me gusta esta ciudad, pero es muy cara. |
| The party was fun, but I was tired. | La fiesta fue divertida, pero estaba cansado. |
| I have time, but I don’t have the desire. | Tengo tiempo, pero no tengo ganas. |
| The exam was difficult, but I think I passed. | El examen fue difícil, pero creo que aprobé. |
Sino Examples
The following table provides examples of sino used to correct a previous negative statement without a conjugated verb.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I don’t want tea, but coffee. | No quiero té, sino café. |
| He is not from France, but from Spain. | No es de Francia, sino de España. |
| She doesn’t speak English, but French. | Ella no habla inglés, sino francés. |
| It is not black, but white. | No es negro, sino blanco. |
| They are not students, but teachers. | No son estudiantes, sino profesores. |
| I don’t want juice, but water. | No quiero jugo, sino agua. |
| This is not a problem, but an opportunity. | Esto no es un problema, sino una oportunidad. |
| It’s not cold, but hot. | No hace frío, sino calor. |
| I didn’t buy a car, but a motorcycle. | No compré un coche, sino una moto. |
| He is not lazy, but hardworking. | No es perezoso, sino trabajador. |
| She is not sad, but happy. | Ella no está triste, sino feliz. |
| I’m not talking about Peter, but about John. | No hablo de Pedro, sino de Juan. |
| This is not a game, but a competition. | Esto no es un juego, sino una competencia. |
| It is not a coincidence, but a plan. | No es una coincidencia, sino un plan. |
| I don’t like apples, but bananas. | No me gustan las manzanas, sino los plátanos. |
| He is not my brother, but my cousin. | No es mi hermano, sino mi primo. |
| She is not a doctor, but a nurse. | Ella no es doctora, sino enfermera. |
| I don’t want to study, but to rest. | No quiero estudiar, sino descansar. |
| This is not a copy, but the original. | Esto no es una copia, sino el original. |
| He is not tall, but short. | No es alto, sino bajo. |
| I don’t want to watch TV, but read a book. | No quiero ver la televisión, sino leer un libro. |
| She is not angry, but disappointed. | Ella no está enojada, sino decepcionada. |
| He is not a liar, but truthful. | No es un mentiroso, sino veraz. |
| I don’t want to sing, but dance. | No quiero cantar, sino bailar. |
| This is not a failure, but a learning experience. | Esto no es un fracaso, sino una experiencia de aprendizaje. |
Sino que Examples
The following table provides examples of sino que used to correct a previous negative statement with a conjugated verb.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I don’t want to eat at home, but I want to go to a restaurant. | No quiero comer en casa, sino que quiero ir a un restaurante. |
| He doesn’t live in Paris, but he lives in Rome. | No vive en París, sino que vive en Roma. |
| She doesn’t speak German, but she speaks Italian. | No habla alemán, sino que habla italiano. |
| It’s not that I don’t like it, but that I don’t have time. | No es que no me guste, sino que no tengo tiempo. |
| They are not studying, but they are playing. | No están estudiando, sino que están jugando. |
| I don’t think so, but I know it. | No lo creo, sino que lo sé. |
| I’m not going to sleep, but I’m going to read. | No voy a dormir, sino que voy a leer. |
| He doesn’t want to rest, but he wants to work. | No quiere descansar, sino que quiere trabajar. |
| She doesn’t need help, but she needs advice. | No necesita ayuda, sino que necesita consejo. |
| I don’t want to buy a car, but I want to buy a house. | No quiero comprar un coche, sino que quiero comprar una casa. |
| He is not lying, but he is mistaken. | No está mintiendo, sino que está equivocado. |
| She is not crying, but she is laughing. | No está llorando, sino que está riendo. |
| I don’t hate him, but I don’t understand him. | No lo odio, sino que no lo entiendo. |
| This is not a defeat, but it is a challenge. | Esto no es una derrota, sino que es un desafío. |
| I don’t want to go out, but I want to stay home. | No quiero salir, sino que quiero quedarme en casa. |
| He doesn’t want to talk, but he wants to listen. | No quiere hablar, sino que quiere escuchar. |
| She doesn’t like coffee, but she likes tea. | No le gusta el café, sino que le gusta el té. |
| I don’t want to be rich, but I want to be happy. | No quiero ser rico, sino que quiero ser feliz. |
| This is not a joke, but it is serious. | Esto no es una broma, sino que es en serio. |
| He is not angry, but he is worried. | No está enojado, sino que está preocupado. |
| I’m not sure, but I suspect it. | No estoy seguro, sino que lo sospecho. |
| She doesn’t ignore him, but she avoids him. | No lo ignora, sino que lo evita. |
| He doesn’t deny it, but he justifies it. | No lo niega, sino que lo justifica. |
| I don’t doubt it, but I investigate it. | No lo dudo, sino que lo investigo. |
| This doesn’t scare me, but it intrigues me. | Esto no me asusta, sino que me intriga. |
Aunque Examples
The following table provides examples of aunque used to express concession.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Although it’s raining, I’m going for a walk. | Aunque está lloviendo, voy a dar un paseo. |
| Even though he is tired, he continues working. | Aunque está cansado, sigue trabajando. |
| Although she is rich, she is not happy. | Aunque es rica, no es feliz. |
| Even if it’s difficult, I will try. | Aunque sea difícil, lo intentaré. |
| Although I don’t agree, I respect your opinion. | Aunque no estoy de acuerdo, respeto tu opinión. |
| Although it was late, we went to the party. | Aunque era tarde, fuimos a la fiesta. |
| Even though I’m busy, I’ll help you. | Aunque estoy ocupado, te ayudaré. |
| Although I don’t know him, I trust him. | Aunque no lo conozco, confío en él. |
| Even if it’s cold, I’ll go swimming. | Aunque haga frío, iré a nadar. |
| Although I don’t like it, I’ll do it for you. | Aunque no me guste, lo haré por ti. |
| Although she is young, she is very responsible. | Aunque es joven, es muy responsable. |
| Even though he is sick, he went to work. | Aunque está enfermo, fue a trabajar. |
| Although I’m not hungry, I’ll eat something. | Aunque no tengo hambre, comeré algo. |
| Even if it’s expensive, I want to buy it. | Aunque sea caro, quiero comprarlo. |
| Although I don’t understand, I’m listening. | Aunque no entiendo, estoy escuchando. |
| Even though she is sad, she is smiling. | Aunque está triste, está sonriendo. |
| Although he is tired, he is studying. | Aunque está cansado, está estudiando. |
| Even if it’s a risk, I’ll take it. | Aunque sea un riesgo, lo tomaré. |
| Although I don’t want to, I have to go. | Aunque no quiero, tengo que ir. |
| Even though she is busy, she always helps others. | Aunque está ocupada, siempre ayuda a los demás. |
| Although he doesn’t know the answer, he tries to guess. | Aunque no sabe la respuesta, intenta adivinar. |
| Even if it’s difficult to believe, it’s true. | Aunque sea difícil de creer, es verdad. |
| Although I don’t like coffee, I drink it to wake up. | Aunque no me gusta el café, lo bebo para despertarme. |
| Even if she is shy, she speaks in public. | Aunque es tímida, habla en público. |
| Although he is not perfect, I love him. | Aunque no es perfecto, lo amo. |
Mas Examples
The following table provides examples of mas used to express contrast (literary/archaic).
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I wanted to go, but I couldn’t. | Quería ir, mas no pude. |
| He tried hard, but he failed. | Se esforzó mucho, mas fracasó. |
| She is beautiful, but unhappy. | Es hermosa, mas infeliz. |
| I have money, but no time. | Tengo dinero, mas no tiempo. |
| He is intelligent, but arrogant. | Es inteligente, mas arrogante. |
| She is kind, but firm. | Es amable, mas firme. |
| I love you, but I can’t be with you. | Te amo, mas no puedo estar contigo. |
| He promised, but didn’t fulfill. | Prometió, mas no cumplió. |
| She hoped, but didn’t succeed. | Esperaba, mas no tuvo éxito. |
| I wanted to help, but I couldn’t. | Quería ayudar, mas no pude. |
Sin Embargo Examples
The following table provides examples of sin embargo used to express contrast formally.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| The weather was bad. However, we enjoyed the trip. | El tiempo era malo. Sin embargo, disfrutamos del viaje. |
| The price was high. Nevertheless, we bought it. | El precio era alto. Sin embargo, lo compramos. |
| He was tired. However, he continued working. | Estaba cansado. Sin embargo, siguió trabajando. |
| She didn’t want to go. Nevertheless, she went. | No quería ir. Sin embargo, fue. |
| I didn’t agree. However, I respected his decision. | No estaba de acuerdo. Sin embargo, respeté su decisión. |
| The task was difficult. Nevertheless, we completed it. | La tarea era difícil. Sin embargo, la completamos. |
| He didn’t study. However, he passed the exam. | No estudió. Sin embargo, aprobó el examen. |
| She was sad. However, she smiled. | Estaba triste. Sin embargo, sonrió. |
| I didn’t understand. However, I pretended to. | No entendía. Sin embargo, fingí que sí. |
| The book was long. However, it was interesting. | El libro era largo. Sin embargo, fue interesante. |
| The food was delicious. However, it was too spicy. | La comida estaba deliciosa. Sin embargo, estaba demasiado picante. |
| He is a good person. However, he is very stubborn. | Él es una buena persona. Sin embargo, es muy terco. |
| She is very talented. However, she lacks discipline. | Ella tiene mucho talento. Sin embargo, le falta disciplina. |
| I like this city. However, it’s very expensive to live here. | Me gusta esta ciudad. Sin embargo, es muy caro vivir aquí. |
| The movie was boring. However, the soundtrack was good. | La película era aburrida. Sin embargo, la banda sonora era buena. |
| I respect your opinion. However, I don’t agree with it. | Respeto tu opinión. Sin embargo, no estoy de acuerdo con ella. |
| The project was successful. However, it took a lot of effort. | El proyecto fue exitoso. Sin embargo, requirió mucho esfuerzo. |
| She is very intelligent. However, she lacks common sense. | Ella es muy inteligente. Sin embargo, le falta sentido común. |
| He is a great athlete. However, he is often injured. | Él es un gran atleta. Sin embargo, a menudo se lesiona. |
| I trust you. However, I need proof. | Confío en ti. Sin embargo, necesito pruebas. |
No Obstante Examples
The following table provides examples of no obstante used to express contrast formally.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| The price was high. Nevertheless, we bought it. | El precio era alto. No obstante, lo compramos. |
| He was tired. Nevertheless, he continued working. | Estaba cansado. No obstante, siguió trabajando. |
| She didn’t want to go. Nevertheless, she went. | No quería ir. No obstante, fue. |
| I didn’t agree. Nevertheless, I respected his decision. | No estaba de acuerdo. No obstante, respeté su decisión. |
| The task was difficult. Nevertheless, we completed it. | La tarea era difícil. No obstante, la completamos. |
| He didn’t study. Nevertheless, he passed the exam. | No estudió. No obstante, aprobó el examen. |
| She was sad. Nevertheless, she smiled. | Estaba triste. No obstante, sonrió. |
| I didn’t understand. Nevertheless, I pretended to. | No entendía. No obstante, fingí que sí. |
| The book was long. Nevertheless, it was interesting. | El libro era largo. No obstante, fue interesante. |
| The road was closed. Nevertheless, we found a way around. | La carretera estaba cerrada. No obstante, encontramos una manera de rodearla. |
| The evidence was weak. Nevertheless, the jury convicted him. | La evidencia era débil. No obstante, el jurado lo condenó. |
| The team was losing. Nevertheless, they kept fighting. | El equipo estaba perdiendo. No obstante, siguieron luchando. |
| The project was delayed. Nevertheless, it was a success. | El proyecto se retrasó. No obstante, fue un éxito. |
| The rules were strict. Nevertheless, they found a loophole. | Las reglas eran estrictas. No obstante, encontraron una laguna legal. |
| The costs were high. Nevertheless, the benefits outweighed them. | Los costos eran altos. No obstante, los beneficios los superaron. |
| The risk was significant. Nevertheless, they decided to proceed. | El riesgo era significativo. No obstante, decidieron proceder. |
| The task was boring. Nevertheless, he did it diligently. | La tarea era aburrida. No obstante, la hizo diligentemente. |
| The weather was unpredictable. No obstante, they went camping. | El clima era impredecible. No obstante, fueron a acampar. |
| The situation was complex. No obstante, they found a solution. | La situación era compleja. No obstante, encontraron una solución. |
| The problem was difficult. No obstante, they solved it quickly. | El problema era difícil. No obstante, lo resolvieron rápidamente. |
Usage Rules
Understanding the usage rules for each “but” equivalent is crucial for accurate and natural Spanish. Here’s a summary of the key rules:
- Pero: Use for general contrast and qualification. It connects two clauses that express opposing or different ideas.
- Sino: Use to correct a previous negative statement. It connects two words, phrases, or clauses. It always follows a negative clause.
- Sino que: Use to correct a previous negative statement when the contrasting clause contains a conjugated verb.
- Aunque: Use to introduce a concessive clause, expressing “although,” “even though,” or “even if.”
- Mas: Use is archaic and rare. It can be used as a synonym for pero in literary contexts.