French word

mais

Pronunciation

IPA/mɛ/

Meaning

  • conjunctionbut

Example

Je veux y aller, mais il pleut.

I want to go, but it's raining.

Illustration for mais (but)

More examples

Tu dis que tu n'as pas faim, mais tu manges quand même.

You say you are not hungry, but you are eating anyway.

Core concept

A conversational hinge that turns the sentence toward a contrast or qualification.

Common phrases

  • mais si

    yes, but

  • mais quand même

    but still

Similar words

pourtant: Signals that a fact or result is contrary to expectations.
par contre: Clearly introduces a different point from what came before in informal speech.
en revanche: Introduces a different aspect or adds a complementary point.

Definition in French

Mot de liaison qui marque une contradiction, une réserve ou une limitation par rapport à ce qui précède.

Word origin

French mais comes through Old French from Latin magis, meaning 'more', and developed into a contrastive conjunction.

Usage tips

  • In a reply to a negative statement, mais si directly contradicts the negation, as in Il ne vient pas - Mais si.

Opposites

  • etandconjunction

Word lists with this word