Conjunctions in Spanish (and, or, but, because)
Spanish
Learn the conjunctions (but, if, because...) in Spanish.
Video
Podcast
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words or phrases in a sentence.
-
Ella canta y baila. (She sings and dances.)
-
Estoy feliz porque hace sol. (I'm happy because it's sunny.)
-
Quiero ir, pero no puedo. (I want to go, but I can't.)
The conjunction "y"(and)
The conjunction "y" ("and" in English) is used to connect words or phrases to indicate addition or continuation of an idea. It joins elements that are similar or related.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me gusta bailar y cantar. | I like dancing and singing. |
| Voy al supermercado y luego al parque. | I'm going to the supermarket and then to the park. |
When words begin with "i-" or "hi-", we use the conjunction "e".
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Ellas son madre e hija. | They are mother and daughter. |
| Mi hermano mayor es inteligente e ingenioso. | My older brother is intelligent and resourceful. |
Use "e" instead of "y" for words starting with "hie-" or "i-". Note that this does not happen with words beginning with "hie-".
Plata y hierro. (Silver and iron.) we use "y"
Conjunction "pero" (but)
The word "pero" ("but" in English) shows a contrast or contradiction between two ideas. It connects sentences that have conflicting information.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Tengo sueño, pero debo trabajar. | I'm sleepy, but I have to work. |
| Es bonito, pero es caro. | It's nice, but it's expensive. |
The conjunction "o" (or)
The conjunction "o" helps us present alternatives or choices between two or more options. In English, it translates to "or".
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Podemos ir al cine o al teatro. | We can go to the cinema or the theatre. |
| ¿Prefieres café o té? | Do you prefer coffee or tea? |
We adapt the conjunction when the next word starts with “o-” or “ho-”.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Vamos a un hotel u hostal? | Shall we go to a hotel or hostel? |
| ¿Quieres uvas u otras frutas? | Do you want grapes or other fruits? |
Use "u" instead of "o" for words starting with "ho-" or "o-".
Días u horas. (Days or hours.)
Conjunction "porque" (because)
We use the conjunction "porque" to give a reason or cause for an action or situation. It explains why something is happening or why someone is doing something. It translates to "because" in English.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| No salí porque estaba lloviendo. | I didn't go out because it was raining. |
| Voy a descansar porque me siento mal. | I am going to rest because I feel sick. |
Be aware that if you misspell the word, it changes meaning. In the following example, "por qué" is an adverb.
¿Por qué elegiste ese trabajo? (Why did you choose that job?)
Conjunction "si" (if)
The conjunction "si" is used when you are talking about something that might happen and what could happen because of it. It translates to "if" or "whether" in English.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Avísame si no puedes venir. | Let me know if you can't come. |
| Voy al parque si hay sol. | I go to the park if it's sunny. |
Be aware that if you add an accent, the meaning changes and translates to "yes".
Sí, voy a la piscina. (Yes, I go to the swimming pool.)
Conjunction "que" (that)
The conjunction "que" is one of the most frequently used words in Spanish. It helps to connect thoughts, express opinions, and convey relationships between ideas. Very often, it translates to "that" in English.
Unlike English, in Spanish, you cannot omit the conjunction.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Creo que mañana lloverá. | I think that it will rain tomorrow. |
| Creo que te he visto. | I think that I saw you. |
Note that by adding an accent in the last vowel the word changes meaning. It translates to "what" in English.
¿Qué? Él nunca me lo dijo. (What? He never told me that.)
Split conjunctions in Spanish
In Spanish, some conjunctions are made up of two parts.
We can use the split conjunction "o...o..." to express a choice between two options.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Puedes elegir o ir al cine o quedarte en casa. | You can either go to the movies or stay at home. |
| La cena de hoy puede ser o pizza o pasta. | Today's dinner can be either pizza or pasta. |
Another combination of conjunctions is "ni...ni...". It expresses a preference for neither of a set of options.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| No quiero ni café ni té. | I don't want either coffee or tea. |
| No sé ni su nombre ni su edad. | I don't know either his name or his age. |
| No tienes ni dinero ni trabajo. | You have neither money nor a job. |
List of common Spanish conjunctions
The following list contains other common Spanish conjunctions that are used frequently in daily situations.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Como | As |
| Cuando | When |
| Pues | Then Well |
| Mientras | While Whereas |
| Aunque | Although Even though Even if |
Listening exercise
In this listening exercise, we will put into practice some of the conjunctions learnt earlier.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Como llovió mucho, el río creció rápidamente. | As it rained a lot, the river rose quickly. |
| Llegaré a casa cuando termine de trabajar. | I will arrive home when I finish working. |
| Pues, no lo sé. | Well, I don’t know. |
| Estudio mientras escucho música. | I study while I listen to music. |
| Aunque no tengo hambre, voy a comer. | Even though I'm not hungry, I'm going to eat. |
Key takeaways
Here is a quick summary of this lesson.
- A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words or phrases in a sentence.
- The conjunction "y" becomes "e" for words starting with "hie-" or "i-".
- The conjunction "o" becomes "u" for words starting with "ho-" or "o-".
Important! Practise this lesson with a teacher.
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