German · Greetings & Essentials
"But" in German: aber
aber
But in German is aber. Soften disagreement with Ja, aber… or contrast plans with Ich will gehen, aber ich bin müde. Doch can also contrast, with a different feel.
Plans
Ich komme, aber etwas später.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce aber
Say it
AH-ber
/ˈaːbɐ/
AH-ber. Short a; soft -er.
"But" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| aber | but Default contrast. | Default contrast. |
| ja, aber… | yes, but… Soft pushback. | Soft pushback. |
| doch | but / however / on the contrary Stronger or corrective. | Stronger or corrective. |
| sondern | but rather After a negation. | After a negation. |
How to use aber in real life
- 1Plans
Ich komme, aber etwas später.
I'm coming, but a bit later.
Aber contrast.
- 2Food
Das Essen ist gut, aber salzig.
The food is good, but salty.
Two adjectives.
- 3Soft no
Ja, aber heute schaffe ich das nicht.
Yes, but I can't manage that today.
Ja, aber…
Mistakes English speakers make with aber
Incorrect: Ich will nicht Pizza aber Pasta.
Correct: Ich will nicht Pizza, sondern Pasta.
After a negation use sondern for 'but rather'.
Incorrect: Aber ich müde bin.
Correct: Aber ich bin müde.
Aber does not send the verb to the end like weil.
Good to know
Ja, aber… is a classic polite disagreement opener. Sondern is reserved for correcting after nicht/kein.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a film night
ChatPal
Willst du einen Thriller?
Do you want a thriller?
You
Eigentlich ja, aber ich bin müde.
Basically yes, but I'm tired.
ChatPal
Okay, aber dann etwas Kurzes.
Okay, but then something short.
You
Passt. Eine Folge reicht.
Works. One episode is enough.
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 German
How do you say but?
Aber.
But rather after no?
Sondern.
Does aber change word order?
No — verb stays in second position.
Ja, aber…?
Soft disagreement: yes, but…
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
