French · Greetings & Essentials
"But" in French: mais
mais
But in French is mais. Oui, mais… softens disagreement. Mais bon means "but anyway" when you shrug and move on.
Plans
Je veux sortir, mais je suis fatigué.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mais
Say it
meh
/mɛ/
Mais sounds like meh (open e). Not like English "may" with a long a.
"But" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| mais | but Default contrast. | Default contrast. |
| oui, mais… | yes, but… Polite pushback. | Polite pushback. |
| mais bon | but anyway Closing a topic. | Closing a topic. |
| mais non | no way / not at all Friendly denial. | Friendly denial. |
How to use mais in real life
- 1Plans
Je veux sortir, mais je suis fatigué.
I want to go out, but I'm tired.
Mais contrasts.
- 2Ordering
Le plat est bon, mais un peu salé.
The dish is good, but a bit salty.
Mais + adjective.
- 3Soft no
Oui, mais pas ce soir.
Yes, but not tonight.
Oui, mais…
Mistakes English speakers make with mais
Incorrect: Je veux venir but demain.
Correct: Je veux venir, mais demain.
Use mais, not English but.
Incorrect: Mais oui meaning but.
Correct: Mais alone means but; mais oui means "of course."
Mais oui is agreement, not contrast.
Good to know
Mais oui and mais non are set reactions (of course / no way). Tone carries a lot: mais can sound gentle or sharp depending on how you say it.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a restaurant
ChatPal
Ce resto est sympa, mais cher.
That restaurant is nice, but expensive.
You
Oui, mais on peut partager un plat.
Yes, but we can share a dish.
ChatPal
D'accord, on tente.
OK, let's try it.
You
Je réserve.
I'll book.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"But" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "But" in French
How do you say but in French?
Mais.
How do you say yes, but…?
Oui, mais…
What does mais bon mean?
"But anyway" — moving on.
How do you pronounce mais?
meh.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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