but
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pero
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but(
buht
)
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g. The cat and the dog slept.).
conjunction
1. (used to express a contrasting statement)
a. pero
I want to go, but it's really far.Quiero ir pero es muy lejos.
b. sino
He wasn't from New York, but from New Jersey.No era de Nueva York, sino de Nueva Jersey.
2. (emphatic)
a. pero
But it is still too early to go to bed!¡Pero si aún es muy temprano para acostarse!
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).
adverb
3. (only)
a. no ser más que
She is but a poor philosopher.No es más que una pobre filósofa.
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).
preposition
4. (except)
a. salvo
I have read all his books but the last one.He leído todos sus libros salvo el último.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
noun
5. (objection)
a. pero
I don't want any buts or excuses.No quiero ni peros ni excusas.
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
but
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).
preposition
1. (except)
a. salvo, excepto
any day but tomorrowcualquier día salvo mañana
it's nothing but prejudiceno son más que prejuicios
she is anything but stupides todo menos tonta
but forde no ser por, si no es por
the last but oneel/la penúltimo(a)
the next but oneel próximo no, el otro
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).
adverb
2. (formal)
a.
he is but a childno es más que un niño
had I but known!¡si lo hubiera sabido!
one can but tryal menos, se debe intentar
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g. The cat and the dog slept.).
conjunction
3. (in general)
a. pero
small but strongpequeño, pero fuerte
I told her to do it but she refusedle dije que lo hiciera, pero se negó
but I tell you I saw it!¡te aseguro que lo vi!
what could I do but invite him?¿qué otra cosa podía hacer más que invitarlo?
4. (direct contrast)
a. sino
not once but twiceno una vez sino dos
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
5. (general)
a.
no buts!¡no hay peros que valgan!
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
but [bʌt]
conjunction
1 (contrasting) pero
she was poor but she was honest era pobre pero honrada; I want to go but I can't afford it quiero ir, pero no tengo el dinero; but it does move! ¡pero sí se mueve!
2 (in direct contradiction) sino
he's not Spanish but Italian no es español sino italiano
he didn't sing but he shouted no cantó sino que gritó
3 (subordinating)
we never go out but it rains nunca salimos sin que llueva
I never go there but I think of you nunca voy allá sin pensar en ti
it never rains but it pours llueve sobre mojado
4 (as linker)
but then he couldn't have known por otro lado, no podía saber or haberlo sabido
but then you must be my cousin! ¡entonces tú debes ser mi primo!
adverb
(only) solo; sólo; solamente; (no more than) no más que
In the past the standard spelling for [solo] as an adverb was with an accent ([sólo]). Nowadays the [Real Academia Española] advises that the accented form is only required where there might otherwise be confusion with the adjective [solo].
if I could but speak to him si solamente or solo pudiese hablar con él
you can but try con intentar no se pierde nada
one cannot but admire him no se puede sino admirarle; she's but a child no es más que una niña
all but naked casi desnudo
had I but known de haberlo sabido (yo); si lo hubiera sabido
preposition
(except) menos; excepto; salvo
anything but that cualquier cosa menos eso
everyone but him todos menos él
but for you si no fuera por ti
the last but one el/la penúltimoapenúltima;a penúltima
the last but three el tercero antes del último
there is nothing for it but to pay up no hay más remedio que pagar
who but she could have said something like that? ¿quién sino ella podría haber dicho semejante cosa?
noun
pero (m); objeción (f)
no buts about it! ¡no hay pero que valga!
come on, no buts, off to bed with you! ¡vale ya! no hay pero que valga, ¡a la cama!
There are three main ways of translating the conjunction but: pero, sino and sino que.
Contrasting
To introduce a contrast or a new idea, use pero:
Strange but interesting Extraño pero interesante
I thought he would help me but he refused Creí que me ayudaría, pero se negó
In informal language, pero can be used at the start of a comment:
But where are you going to put it? Pero ¿dónde lo vas a poner?
In formal language, sin embargo or no obstante may be preferred:
But, in spite of the likely benefits, he still opposed the idea Sin embargo or No obstante, a pesar de las probables ventajas, todavía se oponía a la idea
Correcting a previous negative
When but or but rather introduces a noun phrase, prepositional phrase or verb in the infinitive which corrects a previous negative, translate but using sino:
Not wine, but vinegar No vino, sino vinagre
They aren't from Seville, but from Bilbao No son de Sevilla, sino de Bilbao
His trip to London was not to investigate the case but to hush it up Su viaje a Londres no fue para investigar el caso sino para taparlo
When but or but rather introduces a verb clause (or requires a verb clause in Spanish) which corrects a previous negative, translate using sino que:
He's not asking you to do what he says but (rather) to listen to him No te pide que hagas lo que él dice, sino que le escuches
Not only ... but also
When the but also part of this construction contains subject + verb, translate using no solo or no sólo or no solamente ... sino que también or sino que además:
It will not only cause tension, but it will also damage the economy No solo or No sólo or No solamente provocará tensiones, sino que además or sino que también dañará la economía
When the but also part does not contain subject + verb, translate using no solo or no sólo or no solamente ... sino también or sino además:
Not only rich but also powerful No solo or No sólo or No solamente rico sino también or sino además poderoso
We don't only want to negotiate but also to take decisions No queremos solo or sóloor solamente negociar, sino también tomar decisiones
but
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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