mas
but
Beginner Conjunction
🔊
Pronunciation
/maʃ/
💡
Cultural Note
Do not confuse 'mas' (but) with 'mais' (more) — they sound different but are mixed up by some learners and even native speakers in writing. 'Mas' introduces a contrast or exception. The emphatic form 'mas que' can express surprise: 'Mas que coisa!' (What a thing! / How surprising!). In speech, 'mas' often begins sentences as a conversation filler.
📝 Example Sentences
Quero ir, mas não posso.
I want to go, but I can't.
É caro, mas vale a pena.
It's expensive, but it's worth it.