In this grammar lesson, you will learn how to say but in Spanish.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- say but in Spanish
- how but in Spanish is used in sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on but in Spanish
- how you can practice with flashcards on but in Spanish
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn Spanish
By the end of the lesson, you will know all about how to say but in Spanish!
Table of Contents
Say But in Spanish with Pero
You can use pero to say but in Spanish.
You will use pero to limit or contrast something that was expressed earlier on.
Please have a look at some examples where pero limits what was expressed earlier on:
Pásatelo bien en tu viaje, pero no te olvides de mí.
Have fun on your trip, but don’t forget about me.
Marta tienes muchos amigas pero nunca sale de casa.
Marta has many friends but never leaves the house.
Please have a look at some examples where pero contrasts what was expressed earlier on:
Juan no es muy hablador, pero es muy simpático.
Juan is not very talkative, but he is very friendly.
Me gusta el vestido verde pero prefiero el de flores.
I like the green dress but I prefer the floral one.
Say But in Spanish with Sino
You can use sino to say but in Spanish.
You will use sino to correct something that was expressed in the first part of the sentence.
What was said in the first part of the sentence is always negative, and after sino you will substitute that thing for something else.
Please have a look at the following examples:
No tengo hambre, sino cansancio.
I am not hungry, but tired.
Julia no es americana, sino inglesa.
Julia is not American, but English.
Estas patatas no son caseras, sino congeladas.
These potatoes are not homemade, but frozen.
You may wonder, how do you know whether to use pero or sino in negative sentences?
With pero you are contrasting one idea with a different one.
With sino you are substituting one idea with a different one.
Mis padres no eran ricos, pero siempre han sido felices.
My parents were not rich, but they have always been happy.
Mi perro no es un bulldog, sino un carlino.
My dog is not a bulldog, but a pug.
Say But in Spanish with Sino Que
You may have noticed that in all of the examples with sino, the verb in the second part of the sentence has been left out seeing as it would be a repetition of the verb in the first part of the sentence.
Mis amigos no llegan hoy, sino [llegan] mañana.
My friends are not arriving today, but tomorrow.
If you need a different conjugated verb in the second part of the sentence after sino, then you will add que after sino.
No quieren que les visitemos, sino que les dejemos tranquilos.
They don’t want us to visit them, they want us to leave them alone.
En su cumpleaños no hizo una gran fiesta, sino que nos invitó a comer a un restaurante caro.
On his birthday he didn’t throw a big party, but invited us to an expensive restaurant for lunch.
Example Sentences on How to Say But in Spanish
This section of the lesson on but in Spanish is about seeing the conjunctions used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of but in Spanish through examples.
Pásatelo bien en tu viaje, pero no te olvides de mí.
Have fun on your trip, but don’t forget about me.
Marta tienes muchos amigas pero nunca sale de casa.
Marta has many friends but never leaves the house.
Juan no es muy hablador, pero es muy simpático.
Juan is not very talkative, but he is very friendly.
Me gusta el vestido verde pero prefiero el de flores.
I like the green dress but I prefer the floral one.
No tengo hambre, sino cansancio.
I am not hungry, but tired.
Julia no es americana, sino inglesa.
Julia is not American, but English.
Estas patatas no son caseras, sino congeladas.
These potatoes are not homemade, but frozen.
Mis padres no eran ricos, pero siempre han sido felices.
My parents were not rich, but they have always been happy.
Mi perro no es un bulldog, sino un carlino.
My dog is not a bulldog, but a pug.
Mis amigos no llegan hoy, sino [llegan] mañana.
My friends are not arriving today, but tomorrow.
No quieren que les visitemos, sino que les dejemos tranquilos.
They don’t want us to visit them, they want us to leave them alone.
En su cumpleaños no hizo una gran fiesta, sino que nos invitó a comer a un restaurante caro.
On his birthday he didn’t throw a big party, but invited us to an expensive restaurant for lunch.
Quiz Yourself on How to Say But in Spanish
At the end of every lesson, you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our Spanish A2 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 3,568 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for Spanish A2.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be an easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!
