B1 · Intermediate lesson

Pero vs. Sino

English uses “but” for two different jobs. Spanish splits them: pero adds a contrast, and sino replaces a negative idea with the right one. If you can say “not this, but that,” you need sino.

Quick answer

Pero adds a contrast: Es caro, pero es bueno.
Sino corrects a negative: No es caro, sino barato.
Sino que goes before a verb: No lo compré, sino que lo recibí de regalo.

Try the mini quiz Practice this topic

Pero: but, however

Use pero to add a contrast or an exception. The first part can be positive or negative.

Examples

Quiero ir, pero no puedo.I want to go, but I cannot.Pero.
Es pequeño, pero muy cómodo.It is small, but very comfortable.Contrast.
No tengo hambre, pero tomaré un café.I am not hungry, but I will have a coffee.Negative first part, pero.

Sino: not this, but that

Use sino when the first part is negative and the second part corrects it. You can replace it with “but rather” in English.

Examples

No es mexicano, sino colombiano.He is not Mexican, but Colombian.Sino corrects.
No quiero café, sino té.I do not want coffee, but tea.Sino.
No estudio medicina, sino derecho.I do not study medicine, but law.Sino.

Sino que before a conjugated verb

If a conjugated verb follows, use sino que.

Examples

No llegó, sino que se quedó en casa.He did not arrive, but stayed at home.Sino que.
No solo canta, sino que también baila.She not only sings, but also dances.No solo… sino también.
No me llamó, sino que me escribió.He did not call me, but he wrote to me.Sino que.

Quick test

Ask yourself: is the first part negative, and does the second part replace it? If yes, use sino. If the second part only adds a contrast, use pero.

Examples

No es rojo, sino azul.It is not red, but blue.Replaces.
No es rojo, pero me gusta.It is not red, but I like it.Contrast.

Spanish around the world

Both words are used in every region. In informal speech you will hear pero much more often, and sino in careful speech and in writing.

Common mistakes

Incorrect: No es rojo pero azul.
Correct: No es rojo, sino azul.
A correction needs sino.
Incorrect: Es caro, sino bueno.
Correct: Es caro, pero bueno.
Contrast needs pero.
Incorrect: No llegó, sino se quedó en casa.
Correct: No llegó, sino que se quedó en casa.
Add que before a conjugated verb.
Incorrect: Si no, café.
Correct: Sino café.
Sino (but) is one word; si no (if not) is two.