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pero

peh-roh'pe.ɾo

“pero” means “but” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

but

Also: however, yet
A split image with a sunny beach on the left and a rainy city street on the right, representing contrast.

📝 In Action

Me gusta el chocolate, pero no puedo comerlo ahora.

A1

I like chocolate, but I can't eat it now.

La película es buena, pero un poco larga.

A1

The movie is good, but a little long.

Quería salir, pero empezó a llover.

A2

I wanted to go out, but it started to rain.

¡Pero qué dices! Eso no es verdad.

B1

But what are you saying! That's not true.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sin embargo (however)
  • no obstante (nevertheless)

Antonyms

  • y (and)
  • además (besides, also)

Common Collocations

  • pero bueno – but well, oh well
  • pero si... – but if... (used to express surprise or contradiction)

objection, fault

Also: drawback, catch
NounmB2
A person's hand holding a magnifying glass over a shiny red apple, as if looking for a small flaw or objection.

📝 In Action

El plan es casi perfecto, solo tiene un pero.

B2

The plan is almost perfect, it just has one drawback.

No le pongas peros a todo lo que digo.

B2

Don't find fault with everything I say.

Todo muy bonito, ¿dónde está el pero?

C1

Everything is very nice, so where's the catch?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • poner peros – to make objections, to find fault
  • sin peros – without any objections

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pero" in Spanish:

but→catch→drawback→fault→however→objection→yet→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pero

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is correct? 'No quiero el rojo, ____ el azul.'

📚 More Resources

🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish 'peró', which itself is from the Latin phrase 'per hoc', meaning 'because of this' or 'for this'. Over time, its meaning shifted to introduce a contrast, much like its English cousin 'but'.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: porémCatalan: peròItalian: però

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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?).