mais/mɛ/
conjunction / interjection · A1 · Frequency 61
conjunction
Meanings
but
Used as a conjunction to express contrast or concession, common in both spoken and written language.
Examples
Je voulais sortir, mais il pleuvait.
I wanted to go out, but it was raining.
Le dossier est court, mais il est complet.
The file is short, but it is complete.
Mais personne ne connaissait encore la réponse.
But no one knew the answer yet.
Collocations
- mais ouibut yes, certainly
- mais nonbut no, not at all
- mais enfinbut come on, well
Common mistakes
mais que
mais
The conjunction “mais” should not be combined with “que”; the incorrect form is “mais que”.
Related words
interjection
Meanings
an expression of surprise, disbelief, or frustration roughly equivalent to the English well, or sometimes yeah
Commonly used as an interjection in spoken language to express the speaker's emotional reaction.
a conjunction expressing contrast, equivalent to the English but
Used as a conjunction to indicate contrast between clauses; a very common conjunction in French.
Examples
Mais quelle surprise de te voir ici !
Well, what a surprise to see you here!
Mais non, je n'ai pas oublié ton anniversaire.
Well, no, I haven't forgotten your birthday.
Mais enfin, écoute-moi jusqu'au bout !
Well, come on, listen to me until the end!
Collocations
- mais enfinphrase expressing surprise or dissatisfaction
- mais cependantformal conjunction collocation expressing contrast
- mais aussiconjunction collocation expressing addition
Common mistakes
mais!
mais
The interjection “mais” is usually not followed by an exclamation mark unless for special emphasis.
mais et
mais
As a conjunction, “mais” should not be combined with “et”; the incorrect form is “mais et”.
Related words
synonymeh bienan interjection expressing surprise or hesitation
synonymcependanta conjunction expressing contrast
- antonymeta conjunction expressing addition or coordination