A winding road suddenly ending at the edge of a deep, dramatic canyon, illustrating the concept of contrast or opposition.

mas

/mahs/

ConjunctionC1

but?Used in a literary or formal way to show a contrast.

Also:yet?Similar to 'but', introducing a contrasting idea.,however?A more formal alternative.

📝 In Action

Quiso ayudar, mas no tenía los medios.

He wanted to help, but he didn't have the means.

Es un camino largo y difícil, mas la recompensa es grande.

It is a long and difficult path, yet the reward is great.

Le advertí del peligro, mas no me escuchó.

I warned him of the danger, but he didn't listen to me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pero (but)
sin embargo (however)

💡 Grammar Points

A Formal or Literary 'But'

Think of 'mas' as a fancy, old-fashioned way to say 'but'. It does the same job as 'pero': it connects two ideas that contrast with each other. You put it between the two contrasting parts of the sentence.

❌ Common Pitfalls

The Accent Mark is Everything!

Mistake: "Me gusta el café, mas sin azúcar."

Correction: This is technically correct, but very unusual in conversation. Most importantly, do NOT confuse it with 'más'. For example, if you want 'more coffee', saying 'Quiero mas café' is wrong. You MUST say 'Quiero más café'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Rule of Thumb: Use 'Pero'

For speaking and everyday writing, just use 'pero'. It's always correct and sounds natural. Keep 'mas' in your back pocket for when you're reading classic literature or want to sound very poetic in your writing.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence is correct and means 'I want more time, but I don't have it'?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with mas

paz

gas

capaz

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real difference between 'mas' and 'más'?

The accent mark changes everything! 'Más' (with an accent) means 'more' and is extremely common. 'Mas' (without an accent) is a formal, literary word for 'but'. In 99% of daily conversations, you will only need to use 'más' (more) and 'pero' (but).

Can I use 'mas' and 'pero' interchangeably?

While they mean the same thing ('but'), they are not interchangeable in terms of style. 'Pero' is for everyday use. 'Mas' is for formal or literary writing. Using 'mas' in a casual conversation would sound a bit strange, like wearing a tuxedo to go grocery shopping.