Spanish word

sino

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈsino/

Meaning

  • conjunctionbut rather

Example

No es un error, sino una decisión.

It is not an error, but rather a decision.

Illustration for sino (but rather)

More examples

No dije que no viniera, sino que llegara más tarde.

I didn't say that he shouldn't come, but rather that he should arrive later.

Core concept

Corrective alternative following a negative clause.

Common phrases

  • no ... sino ...

    not ... but rather ...

  • no es ... sino ...

    it's not ... but rather ...

  • sino que

    but rather that

Similar words

pero: States an opposing point while accepting or conceding the prior remark.
sino que: Replaces a negated action or state immediately after a negative clause and connects to a verb.
sin embargo: Introduces another fact or opinion that contrasts without denying the previous statement.
en cambio: Shows a different position or outcome to contrast with what was said before.

Definition in Spanish

Se usa para contrastar y presentar lo que reemplaza a lo negado anteriormente.

Word origin

Sino comes from the fusion of si 'if' and no 'no' (originally si no 'if not'), which contracts into a single conjunction that introduces what replaces the denied idea.

Usage tips

  • It is used only after a negative statement to present the replacement idea; for plain contrast without prior negation, Spanish uses pero instead.

Opposites

Word lists with this word