How To Say But in Spanish

Although pero and sino are the most common words translated from Spanish as but, they are used in different ways and cannot be substituted for each other. Like but often is,  pero and sino are coordinating conjunctions, meaning that they connect two words or phrases of similar grammatical status. And like but, pero and sino are used in forming contrasts. Differences Between Pero and Sino Usually, the Spanish conjunction to be used to indicate a contrast is pero. But sino is used instead when two conditions are true: when the part of the sentence coming before the conjunction is stated in the negative, and when the part after the conjunction directly contradicts what is negated in the first part. In mathematical-like terms, sino is used for but in sentences of type not A but B when A contradicts B. The examples below should make this clear. Heres another way of putting it: Both pero and sino can be translated as but. But in almost all cases, rather, but rather or instead also could be used as an appropriate translation where sino is used, but not for pero. Examples of Pero in Use Me gustarà ­a salir, pero no puedo. (I would like to leave, but I cant. The first part of the sentence isnt stated in the negative, so pero is used.)Marà ­a es alta pero no es fuerte. (Mary is tall, but she isnt strong. The first part of the sentence isnt stated in the negative, so pero is used.)Los huevos son fritos pero no revueltos. (The eggs are fried but not scrambled. Again, the first part of the sentence is stated in the affirmative.)Marà ­a no es alta pero es inteligente. (Mary isnt tall, but shes intelligent. Although the first part of this sentence is in the negative, pero is used because theres no direct contrast — theres no contradiction with being short and smart.)No son muchos pero buenos. (There arent many, but theyre good. Again, theres no direct contrast, so pero is used.)El virus Cà ³digo Rojo no afecta usuarios, pero Sircam no remite. (The Code Red virus doesnt affect users, but Sircam doesnt let up. The two parts of this sentence are used as a compariso n rather than a contrast, so pero is used.) Examples of Sino  in Use Marà ­a no es alta sino baja. (Mary isnt tall, but short, or Mary isnt tall, rather shes short. Theres a direct contrast between tall and short.)No creemos lo que vemos, sino que vemos lo que creemos. (We dont believe what we see, but we see what we believe, or we dont believe what we see, rather we see what we believe. Theres a clear and direct contrast between cause and effect used in this sentence.)El protagonista no era conde sino seà ±or. (The protagonist wasnt a count but a lord, or the protagonist wasnt a count, rather he was a lord. Although conde and seà ±or arent opposites, they are used in this sentence to contrast with each other.)No he venido a ser servido sino a servir. (I havent come to be served but to serve, or I havent come to be served; instead I have come to serve. Again, theres a direct contrast between the two purposes stated in the sentence.)El problema no es tuyo sino mà ­o. (The problem isnt yours but mine. Sino shows a contrast in ownership.) Other Ways of Saying But in Spanish When except can substitute for but, it is often possible to use excepto, menos, or salvo. In these cases, however, but and the Spanish word are arent used to form a contrast but to function as a preposition. Creo en la justicia para todos, excepto mis enemigos. (I believe in justice for everyone but  my enemies.)No conozco a nadie, excepto mi hija. (I dont know anybody but my daughter.)Me gustan todos los comentarios, menos el primero. (I liked all the comments but the first one.)Debemos considerar todas las posibilidades, menos esa. (We should consider all the possibilities but that one.)Todos los formularios,  salvo uno, està ¡n disponibles en inglà ©s. (All the forms but one are available in English.)Nadie, salvo yo, sabe lo que es bueno para mà ­. (Nobody but me knows what is good for me.)