Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"But" in Spanish: pero
pero
But in Spanish is pero. Soft contrast: quiero ir, pero estoy cansado. After a no, sino corrects the choice.
How to pronounce pero: audio and sound guideDeclining politely
Me gusta, pero hoy no puedo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pero
Say it
PEH-roh
/ˈpe.ɾo/
PEH-roh. Stress on PEH.
"But" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| pero | but Default contrast. | Default contrast. |
| sino | but rather / but instead After a negation, correcting the idea. | After a negation, correcting the idea. |
| pero bueno | well / anyway Soft reset in speech. | Soft reset in speech. |
| sin embargo | however More formal contrast. | More formal contrast. |
How to use pero in real life
- 1Declining politely
Me gusta, pero hoy no puedo.
I like it, but I can't today.
Soft no with pero.
- 2Weather plans
Hace sol, pero hace frío.
It's sunny, but it's cold.
Two facts joined.
- 3Menu tweak
Quiero té, pero sin azúcar.
I want tea, but without sugar.
Pero plus a limit.
Mistakes English speakers make with pero
Incorrect: Quiero ir, mas estoy cansado.
Correct: Quiero ir, pero estoy cansado.
Everyday but is pero. Mas is rare and literary.
Incorrect: No té, pero café. (as a correction)
Correct: No té, sino café.
After a no that rejects one option, use sino, not pero.
Good to know
Good to knowPero is the everyday but in Latin America. Sino corrects after a negation. Learners mix pero and sino constantly.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Adjusting weekend plans
ChatPal
¿Salimos, pero más tarde?
Shall we go out, but later?
You
Sí, quiero, pero después de las seis.
Yes, I want to, but after six.
ChatPal
Perfecto. Sin prisa.
Perfect. No rush.
You
Gracias por esperar.
Thanks for waiting.
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 Spanish
How do you say but?
Pero.
Pero vs sino?
Pero adds contrast. Sino corrects after a negation.
Pronunciation tip?
PEH-roh—roll a light r if you can.
Formal however?
Sin embargo.
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