pero cómo
/peɾo komo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'but how' is translated into Spanish as pero cómo.
The phrase pero cómo is often used at the beginning of a sentence to express disbelief, shock or indignation regarding a situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word pero means 'but' and cómo means 'how'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an interrogative (a question), cómo must always carry a written accent mark.
Did you know?
- The word pero actually traces back to the Latin phrase per hoc, which literally means 'for this reason' or 'through this'.
- The word cómo is a descendant of the Latin quōmodo, which shares the same root as the English word 'mode' or 'modality'.
- Spanish speakers may use pero cómo as a standalone exclamation, where the rest of the sentence is omitted because the shock is so great that no words follow.
Examples in context
- ¿Pero cómo pueden hacerlo?But how can they do this?This sentence is useful for seeing how to ask how they can do something with pero cómo.Tatoeba #815329 by Munia, translation #53513 by AlanF_US
- ¿Pero cómo puedo hacerlo?But how can I do that?This sentence is useful for seeing how to ask how I can do something with pero cómo.Tatoeba #6004111 by Adelpa, translation #6004102 by Adelpa
- ¿Pero cómo se supone que lo arregle?But how am I supposed to fix it?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier tells Sofía that the car won't start.
- JavierSofía, el coche no arranca.Sofía, the car won't start.
- Sofía¿Pero cómo?But how?
- JavierNo tiene batería.It has no battery.
- Sofía¡Qué problema!What a problem!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cómo, pero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
