Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"But" in Portuguese: mas
mas
But in Portuguese is mas. Soften a no with quero ir, mas estou cansado. Porém is more formal; everyday speech loves mas.
Declining politely
Quero ir, mas tenho que trabalhar.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mas
Say it
mahs
/ˈmas/
mahs
"But" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| mas | but Default contrast. | Default contrast. |
| mas ainda assim | but still Stronger contrast. | Stronger contrast. |
| não… mas… | not… but… Correction. | Correction. |
| porém | however / but More formal. | More formal. |
How to use mas in real life
- 1Declining politely
Quero ir, mas tenho que trabalhar.
I want to go, but I have to work.
Soft no.
- 2Food review
Está bom, mas falta sal.
It’s good, but it needs salt.
Feedback.
- 3Weather plan
Está nublado, mas não deve chover.
It’s cloudy, but it shouldn’t rain.
Forecast.
Mistakes English speakers make with mas
Incorrect: Quero ir, pero estou cansado.
Correct: Quero ir, mas estou cansado.
Portuguese uses mas, not Spanish pero.
Incorrect: Quero ir, mais estou cansado.
Correct: Quero ir, mas estou cansado.
Mais means more; the contrast word is mas.
Good to know
Mas is the everyday but; porém sounds essay-like. Mais with an i means more—spelling mix-ups are common for learners. Soft refusals almost always include mas plus a reason.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Changing weekend plans
ChatPal
Quer ir à praia, mas parece que vai chover.
Want to go to the beach, but it looks like rain.
You
Eu iria, mas prefiro cinema então.
I’d go, but I prefer the movies then.
ChatPal
Fecho. Longe, mas tem sessão cedo.
Deal. It’s far, but there’s an early showing.
You
Perfeito. Te encontro às duas.
Perfect. I’ll meet you at two.
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 Portuguese
How do you say but?
Mas.
Mas vs mais?
Mas = but; mais = more.
Spanish pero?
Use mas in Portuguese.
More formal?
Porém.
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
