pues
“pues” means “well...” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
well...
Also: so..., um...
📝 In Action
¿Qué quieres comer? —Pues, no sé, quizás una ensalada.
A1What do you want to eat? —Well, I don't know, maybe a salad.
Pues, como te estaba diciendo, la reunión es mañana.
A2So, as I was telling you, the meeting is tomorrow.
of course
Also: well then
📝 In Action
¿Vas a venir a la fiesta? —¡Pues claro que sí!
A2Are you coming to the party? —Well, of course I am!
No quiero ir. —Pues no vayas.
A2I don't want to go. —Well then, don't go.
¿Te gustó? —Pues sí, bastante.
B1Did you like it? —Yeah, I did, quite a lot.
since / because
Also: for
📝 In Action
Voy a abrigarme, pues hace frío afuera.
B1I'm going to bundle up, since it's cold outside.
No pudimos entrar, pues la puerta estaba cerrada.
B1We couldn't get in, because the door was locked.
so / then
📝 In Action
Estás cansado, pues acuéstate.
B1You're tired, so go to bed.
El tren ya se fue, pues tendremos que esperar al siguiente.
B2The train has already left, so we'll have to wait for the next one.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pues
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pues' to mean 'because' or 'since'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'post', which meant 'after' or 'behind'. Over time, it evolved in Spanish to become a super flexible word for connecting ideas that come one after another, either in time or in logic.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pues' and 'entonces'?
'Pues' is much more flexible. It can mean 'well...', 'because', or 'so'. 'Entonces' specifically means 'then' or 'so' and usually points to the next thing in a sequence or a logical conclusion. While they can sometimes both mean 'so', only 'pues' works as a conversation starter like 'well...'.
Can I start every sentence with 'pues'?
In casual conversation, you'll hear native speakers do this a lot! It's a very common filler word. However, in more formal situations like a presentation or in writing, it's better to use it less often to sound more direct.