Spanish word

menos

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmenos/

Meaning

  • prepositionexcept

Example

Todos vinieron, menos María.

Everyone came except María.

Illustration for menos (except)

More examples

Llevamos todo para la acampada, menos una cosa.

We brought all but one thing for the camping trip.

Core concept

A small pile separated from a larger pile.

Common phrases

  • todo menos una cosa

    all but one thing

  • todos menos vosotros

    all but you

Similar words

excepto: Leaves a particular item or person out of the remainder, general or neutral use.
salvo: Designates an exception inside a set, commonly found in formal or legal wording.
a excepción de: Names a specific item as an exception, used to state a clear exclusion.
fuera de: Denotes being outside a defined area, range, or group.

Definition in Spanish

Expresa 'salvo' o 'excepto' y también puede señalar menor cantidad en comparaciones simples.

Word origin

Derived from Latin minus meaning 'less', the Spanish word kept the core idea of smaller amount and now serves to mark either an exception or a lesser quantity.

Usage tips

  • In casual speech menos often replaces the more formal excepto to mean 'except', so menos is the common choice when informally excluding items or people.

Other meanings

  • lessadverb
  • minusnoun

Word lists with this word