pues

/pwess/

well...

A young person pausing mid-step on a path, looking thoughtfully into the distance, representing hesitation before speaking.

Visualizing the pause or hesitation before starting a sentence, like saying 'Well...' or 'Um...'.

pues(Filler Word / Conjunction)

well...?Used to start a sentence or pause while thinking.

Also:so...?To introduce a topic or continue a thought.,um...?As a hesitation marker.

📝 In Action

¿Qué quieres comer? —Pues, no sé, quizás una ensalada.

What do you want to eat? —Well, I don't know, maybe a salad.

Pues, como te estaba diciendo, la reunión es mañana.

So, as I was telling you, the meeting is tomorrow.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Writing

Mistake: "Escribo este correo pues quiero solicitar el puesto."

Correction: In formal emails or essays, it's better to be more direct or use other words. Just say: 'Escribo este correo para solicitar el puesto.' (I am writing this email to apply for the position.) Save this use of 'pues' for speaking.

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Go-To Conversation Starter

Think of 'pues' as your best friend for starting sentences in Spanish. It's the perfect, natural-sounding word to use when you're answering a question or need a second to gather your thoughts, just like 'well...' or 'so...' in English.

A friendly cartoon character giving a very enthusiastic, large thumbs-up gesture with a wide, confident smile, symbolizing strong affirmation.

Illustrating strong confirmation and emphasis, as in saying 'Well, of course!'

pues(Adverb)

of course?Often paired with 'claro' or 'sí'.

Also:well then?Used to react to something said.

📝 In Action

¿Vas a venir a la fiesta? —¡Pues claro que sí!

Are you coming to the party? —Well, of course I am!

No quiero ir. —Pues no vayas.

I don't want to go. —Well then, don't go.

¿Te gustó? —Pues sí, bastante.

Did you like it? —Yeah, I did, quite a lot.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

pues claro – well of course
pues sí – well yes / yeah, I do
pues no – well no / no, I don't

⭐ Usage Tips

Add Some Attitude

Adding 'pues' before 'sí', 'no', or 'claro' gives your answer more personality and makes it sound stronger. 'Pues sí' feels more convinced than just 'sí'.

A small child bundling up in a thick, warm coat and hat because a single large snowflake is falling near them, showing cause and effect.

Depicting the introduction of a reason or cause, where an action is taken 'since' or 'because' of the weather.

pues(Conjunction)

since / because?To give a reason for something.

Also:for?A slightly more formal way to introduce an explanation.

📝 In Action

Voy a abrigarme, pues hace frío afuera.

I'm going to bundle up, since it's cold outside.

No pudimos entrar, pues la puerta estaba cerrada.

We couldn't get in, because the door was locked.

Word Connections

Synonyms

porque (because)
ya que (since / given that)

💡 Grammar Points

'Pues' vs. 'Porque' for 'Because'

When giving a reason, 'porque' is your everyday choice. 'Pues' does the same job but often feels a little more planned or explanatory, and it usually comes after a comma.

A person standing alone on an empty train platform looking down the empty tracks, signifying waiting for the next arrival after the previous one has departed.

Showing the logical consequence: the first event occurred, 'so' the characters must now wait for the next option.

pues(Conjunction)

so / then?To introduce a consequence or conclusion.

📝 In Action

Estás cansado, pues acuéstate.

You're tired, so go to bed.

El tren ya se fue, pues tendremos que esperar al siguiente.

The train has already left, so we'll have to wait for the next one.

Word Connections

Synonyms

entonces (so / then)
así que (so)

⭐ Usage Tips

Connecting the Dots

Use this 'pues' when you want to connect a situation to its logical result. It's like saying 'based on what we know... this is the conclusion'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pues

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'pues' to mean 'because' or 'since'?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with pues

después

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.