Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sin embargo | /ˌsin emˈbaɾɡo/ |
| no obstante | /ˌno obsˈtante/ |
| mas | /mas/ |
The forms sin embargo, no obstante and mas are used as conjunctions to mean 'yet' or 'nevertheless' in the sense of showing contrast. Note that when 'yet' is used to mean 'up to this time' (for example, 'It hasn't happened yet'), you should use todavía instead of these forms. Additionally, the phrase aún nada can be used to mean 'still nothing yet'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sin embargo literally translates to 'without embargo' or 'without hindrance'.
Which one should you use?
No obstante is a more formal way to say 'yet' or 'nevertheless' compared to sin embargo. Mas is a literary way to say 'but' or 'yet' and is much less common in spoken conversation than sin embargo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, ya is often used more frequently and is acceptable in formal contexts as well. The word todavía is commonly used in both Spain and Latin America.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌsin emˈbaɾɡo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the conjunction mas (meaning 'but' or 'yet') with the adverb más (meaning 'more'). The conjunction mas never takes an accent mark.
Did you know?
- The phrase sin embargo is a distant relative of the English word 'sans' and the French 'sans', as both come from the Latin word sine.
- The Spanish word todavía is used for 'yet' in negative sentences, but it can also mean 'still' in positive ones, creating a conceptual bridge between the two English words.
- The conjunction mas is almost exclusively found in literature and poetry today and sounds jarringly archaic in a modern street conversation.
Examples in context
- Él prometió volver y sin embargo no lo hizo.He promised to return and yet he didn't.This sentence shows how to use sin embargo to express a broken promise.Tatoeba #1590183 by teskmon, translation #295091 by CK
- Pensamos que talvez moriremos, pero sin embargo seguimos vivos.Thinking perhaps we'll die, yet we remain alive.This sentence uses sin embargo to contrast a thought of death with being alive.Tatoeba #9050911 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9050914 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Ella no dijo nada de nada, sin embargo yo adiviné todo.She said absolutely nothing, and yet I guessed it all.This sentence demonstrates using sin embargo to show how one person guessed something despite another person's silence.Tatoeba #2473818 by marcelostockle, translation #2393889 by kuma
- No ha llegado aún.He hasn't arrived yet.
- No tengo los resultados del examen aún.I don't have the exam results yet.
- Todavía no han respondido a mi solicitud.They haven't responded to my request yet.
- Todavía no ha nevado este invierno.It hasn't snowed yet this winter.
- ¿Ya llegaste?Have you arrived yet?
- ¿Ya terminaste el proyecto?Did you finish the project yet?
- Aún no he visto la película.I haven't seen the movie yet.
- No he decidido aún qué hacer.I haven't decided what to do yet.
- Todavía no he comprado los boletos.I still haven't bought the tickets yet.
- Aún no hay respuesta.There's still no response yet.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a movie they just watched.
- MateoLa película fue muy larga.The movie was very long.
- LucíaSí, sin embargo me gustó mucho.Yes, however I liked it a lot.
- Mateo¿En serio? El final fue aburrido.Really? The ending was boring.
- LucíaFue lento, pero fue muy emotivo.It was slow, but it was very emotional.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yet” translations and entries sin embargo, no obstante, mas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries embargo, mas, no, no obstante, obstante, sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
