sino
/see-no/
📝 In Action
No quiero té, sino café.
A2I don't want tea, but rather coffee.
El coche no es rojo, sino azul oscuro.
A2The car isn't red, but dark blue.
No solo corrimos, sino que también nadamos.
B1We didn't just run, but we also swam.
¿Quién podría hacerlo sino tú?
B2Who could do it but you?
💡 Grammar Points
Sino: The 'Corrector'
Think of 'sino' as a word that corrects or replaces something. It almost always follows a negative statement (something with 'no'). The pattern is: 'not this, sino that'.
When to Use 'sino que'
If the part of the sentence after 'sino' has its own action (a full verb), you need to add 'que'. For example: 'No salí, sino que me quedé en casa.' (I didn't go out, but rather I stayed home.)
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'sino' and 'pero'
Mistake: "El libro no es aburrido, pero interesante."
Correction: El libro no es aburrido, sino interesante. Use 'sino' to directly correct a negative idea ('not boring, but interesting'). Use 'pero' to add a contrasting idea to a positive one ('Es interesante, pero muy largo' - 'It's interesting, but very long').
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Not X, But Y' Formula
Whenever you want to say something follows the pattern 'Not X, but Y' in English, your Spanish brain should immediately think of 'sino'. It's a direct and useful connection.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sino
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'sino'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest difference between 'pero' and 'sino'?
Think of it this way: 'pero' means 'but' and adds a contrasting idea ('It's sunny, but cold'). 'Sino' means 'but rather' and replaces a negative idea ('It's not sunny, but rather cloudy'). If the first part of your sentence has a 'no', you probably need 'sino'.
When do I have to use 'sino que' instead of just 'sino'?
You need to add 'que' when the second part of the sentence has its own verb. Compare: 'No es un libro, sino una revista' (no verb after sino) vs. 'No leí el libro, sino que vi la película' (the verb 'vi' comes after).
Is it common to hear 'sino' used to mean 'destiny'?
Not really in everyday chat. It's a more formal, literary word. You're much more likely to hear your friends use 'destino'. But you will definitely see 'sino' in books, poems, and movies!