How to say but: Italian grammar lesson 42

Ma and però can be used as but in English but have some slightly different ways to be used. Let’s learn their differences to use them correctly!

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What is ma in Italian?

We’re going to learn how to say but in Italian. It’s just a two-letter word: ma.

Like in English, we use the equivalent of but to introduce an idea that contrasts with what we just said. This means we place it right before the second idea in the sentence.

Pay attention to the two ideas in each sentence and how they’re linked by ma.

Lei vuole uscire ma io voglio stare a casa.

She wants to go out but I want to stay home.

Il professore ha spiegato l’esercizio ma io non ho capito.

The teacher explained the exercise but I didn’t understand.

How to say but in Italian

But: examples

Let’s have a look at some more examples:

Ho studiato ma non mi ricordo niente.

I studied but I don’t remember anything.

Mi piace andare in montagna ma preferisco andare al mare.

I like to go to the mountains but I prefer to go to the beach.

Sono andata al bar ma non ho visto Matteo.

I went to the cafe but I didn’t see Matteo.

How to use ma in Italian

How to use però?

There’s also another option for saying but which is a bit longer, slightly less common, and is used differently. We can say però instead of ma.

This word is more flexible than ma. While ma can only go right before the second phrase (in other words, in between the two phrases), però can also go at the end of a sentence.

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It’s a bit like though in English.

Look at the two possible options for each group of sentences:

Ho visto Anna, però non l’ho salutata.

I saw Anna but I didn’t say hello.

Ho visto Anna. Non l’ho salutata però.

I saw Anna. I didn’t say hello though.

È bello quel film però è un po lungo.

That movie is nice but it’s a bit long.

È bello quel film. È un po lungo però.

That movie is nice. It’s a bit long though.

But in Italian

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FAQs on How to say but: Italian grammar lesson 42

How to use "ma"?

"Ma" introduces an idea that contrasts with what we just said. We place it right before the second idea in the sentence.

How to use "però"?

"Però" is a longer and slightly less common word. It can also go at the end of a sentence. And it can be translated as though in English.

Stefano

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