pero
/peh-roh/
Just like this image shows two different scenes, 'pero' is a word that connects two different or contrasting ideas.
pero (Conjunction)
📝 In Action
Me gusta el chocolate, pero no puedo comerlo ahora.
A1I like chocolate, but I can't eat it now.
La película es buena, pero un poco larga.
A1The movie is good, but a little long.
Quería salir, pero empezó a llover.
A2I wanted to go out, but it started to rain.
¡Pero qué dices! Eso no es verdad.
B1But what are you saying! That's not true.
💡 Grammar Points
The Bridge Between Ideas
'Pero' works like a bridge to connect two parts of a sentence. The second part usually adds a contrast, a problem, or an unexpected piece of information to the first part.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Pero' and 'Sino'
Mistake: "No es un perro, pero un gato."
Correction: No es un perro, sino un gato. (It's not a dog, but rather a cat.) Use 'sino' right after a 'not this...' statement to correct it with a '...but this instead.' Use 'pero' for almost all other 'but' situations, like: 'Es un perro, pero es muy pequeño.' (It's a dog, but it's very small.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Surprise
You can start a sentence with '¡Pero...!' to show surprise, disbelief, or to object to something someone just said. For example: '¡Pero qué frío hace!' (But it's so cold!)
In this sense, 'un pero' is like a small flaw, objection, or 'catch' you might find, even in something that seems perfect.
pero (Noun)
📝 In Action
El plan es casi perfecto, solo tiene un pero.
B2The plan is almost perfect, it just has one drawback.
No le pongas peros a todo lo que digo.
B2Don't find fault with everything I say.
Todo muy bonito, ¿dónde está el pero?
C1Everything is very nice, so where's the catch?
💡 Grammar Points
A Word for an Idea
When 'pero' is used like this, it's a noun—a word for a thing or an idea. Because it's a masculine noun, you'll see it with words like 'un', 'el', or 'ningún'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Used with 'Poner'
A very common team-up is 'poner peros', which literally means 'to put objections'. It's a natural-sounding way to say someone is always finding reasons to complain or disagree.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pero
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct? 'No quiero el rojo, ____ el azul.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest way to remember the difference between 'pero' and 'sino'?
Think of 'sino' as meaning 'but rather' or 'but instead'. If you can say that in your English sentence, you probably need 'sino'. For 'sino' to work, the first part of the sentence must be negative (using 'no'). For every other time you want to say 'but', 'pero' is almost always the right choice.
Can I start a sentence with 'Pero'?
Yes, absolutely! It's very common in conversation. Starting a sentence with 'Pero' often shows surprise, adds emphasis, or introduces a strong counter-argument to what was just said. For example: 'Pero, ¿no ibas a venir?' (But, weren't you going to come?).