mas
/mas/
The Portuguese word mas is used as a conjunction to introduce a contrasting statement or a qualification.
Which one should you use?
Todavia is a formal word often used in legal or technical writing, while Só que is an informal phrase used as an alternative to mas in Brazil and Portugal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the expression Mas sim is frequently used to emphasize contrast or contradiction.
How does it change in a sentence?
mas is an invariable conjunction and does not change its form for gender, number or tense.
How do you pronounce it?
/mas/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse mas (but) with mais (more) due to their similar spelling and pronunciation.
Did you know?
- The word mas is a linguistic relative of the English word 'much' through their shared distant Proto-Indo-European ancestor meaning 'great'.
- Starting a sentence with Mas… during a conversation is a common social cue in Portuguese to signal a polite interruption or a disagreement.
- In casual Brazilian speech, the phrase mas é que is often used to give a contradiction extra emotional weight or emphasis.
Examples in context
- Estou cansado, porém quero continuar.I'm tired, but I want to keep going.
- Eu queria ir, mas não posso.I wanted to go, but I cannot.
- Eu quero ir, mas estou cansado.I want to go, but I am tired.
- O carro é bonito, mas é caro.The car is beautiful, but it is expensive.
- Ela estudou muito, mas não passou.She studied a lot, but she didn't pass.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Lucas are discussing a restaurant choice.
- BeatrizO restaurante é novo, mas é muito bom.The restaurant is new, but it is very good.
- LucasEu sei, mas é longe daqui.I know, but it is far from here.
- BeatrizNós podemos ir de carro.We can go by car.
- LucasTudo bem, vamos lá então.Alright, let's go then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
