but

Dictionary
Examples

but

A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., et, ou).

I want to ride my bike to campus tomorrow, but it's really far.Je veux aller sur le campus à vélo demain, mais c’est vraiment loin.

2. (besides)

a. sauf

I have read all my favorite author's books but the last one.J’ai lu tous les livres de mon auteur préféré sauf le dernier.

b. excepté

I went to school yesterday, and nobody was there but me. I didn't realize it was a holiday!Je suis allé à l’école hier, et il n’y avait personne excepté moi. Je ne savais pas que c’était un jour férié !

c. à part

Nobody wanted to hike the mountain but Tom.Personne ne voulait faire de randonnée à la montagne à part Tom.

3. (emphatic)

a. mais

But it's still too early to go to bed, Mom!Mais il est encore trop tôt pour aller au lit, Maman !

4. (used to make a statement or question more polite)

a. mais

Excuse me, but I think you're standing on my foot.Excusez-moi, mais je pense que vous êtes sur mon pied.

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a word and another word (e.g., par, en).

preposition

5. (other than)

a. que

Your words are nothing but the squawkings of a tiny, irritating chick to my ears.Vos mots ne sont rien d’autre que les cris d’un petit poussin agaçant à mes oreilles.

A noun is a word that refers to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., femme, chat, maison).

noun

6. (objection)

a. le mais

(m) means that a noun is masculine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).

(M)

I want you to clean your room this instant, and I don't want to hear any buts about it.Je veux que tu nettoies ta chambre tout de suite, et je ne veux pas entendre de mais.

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb (e.g., très, gentiment).

adverb

A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., once upon a time).

(literary)

(only)

a. que

She is nought but a poor philosopher.Elle n’est rien d’autre qu’une pauvre philosophe.

Examples