What does pero in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word pero in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pero in Spanish.

The word pero in Spanish means but, my!, no buts, snag, how on earth, smart but casual, refuse to give 's name, it's always darkest before the dawn, together but not in each other's pockets, justice, however delayed, will be served., no buts, if not, slowly but surely, see the mote in your brother's eye and not the rafter in your own, yes, but. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word pero

but

conjunción (mas: indica oposición o contradicción) (indicating contradiction)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Quiere llegar a tiempo al trabajo, pero nunca lo logra.
I want to arrive to work on time, but I can never manage.

my!

conjunción (enfatiza la frase que introduce) (as emphasis)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¡Pero qué susto me has dado!
My, you really scared me!

no buts

nombre masculino (reparo, objeción, inconveniente) (dismiss an objection)

No hay pero que valga, ¡tienes que hacer tu tarea!
No buts; you have to do your homework!

snag

nombre masculino (falta, defecto)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Siempre encuentras algún pero, nunca estás satisfecho.
You always find a snag; you are never satisfied

how on earth

locución interjectiva (coloquial (sorpresa, incredulidad)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
–La bisabuela parió gemelos. ––¡Pero cómo!

smart but casual

locución adjetiva (arreglada sin excesos) (dress)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Es una fiesta de compañeros de trabajo, debes ir arreglada pero informal.
It's a birthday party for work colleagues, so you should dress smart but casual.

refuse to give 's name

expresión (callarse el autor)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

it's always darkest before the dawn

expresión (coloquial (siempre hay salida)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cuando Pedro se quedó sin trabajo, su suegro le propuso que administrara el negocio familiar: Dios aprieta pero no ahorca.
When Pedro lost his job, his father-in-law suggested he run the family business: it's always darkest before the dawn.

together but not in each other's pockets

expresión (sin mezclarse)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

justice, however delayed, will be served.

expresión (nada queda impune)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
El juicio tomó cinco años, pero al final todos los culpables pagarán por lo que hicieron: la justicia tarda, pero llega.
The trial went on for five years, but, in the end, all the culprits paid for what they did: justice, however delayed, will be served.

no buts

expresión (expresa rechazo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Vas a aceptar la oferta de trabajo y no hay pero que valga.

if not

locución conjuntiva (en caso de no ser así)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Si puedes recogerme con el automóvil, bien, pero si no puedes, no pasa nada, iré en bus.

slowly but surely

locución adverbial (a paso seguro)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La iniciativa ha avanzado sin prisa pero sin pausa y ya empiezan a verse los resultados.
The initiative has gone ahead slowly but surely and you can already see results.

see the mote in your brother's eye and not the rafter in your own

expresión (juzgar sin admitir las faltas propias) (Bible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Es muy fácil ver la paja en el ojo ajeno pero no la viga en el propio.
It's easy to see the mote in your brother's eye and not the rafter in your own.

yes, but

locución adverbial (introduce objeción) (expressing objection)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
—Deberías comenzar la tarea de matemáticas. —Ya, pero es que estoy muy cansada.
- "You should get started on the math homework." - "Yes, but I'm really tired."

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So now that you know more about the meaning of pero in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.