Coordinating Conjunctions
The essential "glue" to build complex sentences without sounding like a robot.
Conjunctions are the invisible glue that holds language together. In English, you use "and", "but", and "or" dozens of times a day without thinking — in Spanish, the same short words do all that heavy lifting, with a few extra rules that trip up most beginners.
The two most common mistakes: using y before a word starting with i (it should be e), and confusing pero and sino — which both translate as "but" in English but work very differently in Spanish.
This guide covers the 11 essential coordinating conjunctions you need for everyday conversation: from the basics (y, o, pero) to the more nuanced pairs (sino vs pero, ya...ya, bien...bien). Each entry includes a clear usage note and a real-life example so you can see exactly how native speakers use them. Work through this table once, then practise building your own sentences — connecting two ideas is one of the fastest ways to go from sounding like a beginner to sounding like someone who actually speaks Spanish.
| Spanish | English | When to use it | Real-life Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| y | and | The most common conjunction to link similar elements. | Juan y María hablan español. Juan and Maria speak Spanish. |
| e | and | Replaces 'y' before words starting with the 'i' sound (i- or hi-) to avoid phonetic clash. | Hablamos de padres e hijos. We talk about fathers and sons. |
| ni | nor / neither | Used in negative sentences to link two negative alternatives. | No quiero té ni café. I want neither tea nor coffee. |
| o | or | The standard conjunction used to express a choice between options. | ¿Prefieres vino o cerveza? Do you prefer wine or beer? |
| u | or | Replaces 'o' before words starting with the 'o' sound (o- or ho-) to avoid phonetic clash. | ¿Son siete u ocho personas? Are there seven or eight people? |
| pero | but | The most common way to express contrast or opposition. | Tengo hambre, pero no tengo dinero. I am hungry, but I have no money. |
| sino | but (rather) | Used after a negative statement to introduce a corrective alternative. | No es rojo, sino naranja. It's not red, but rather orange. |
| mas | but | A formal or literary synonym for 'pero', rarely used in conversation. | Quiso ir, mas no pudo. He wanted to go, but he couldn't. |
| ya... ya | whether... or | Used to express alternatives that occur at different times or situations. | Ya sea hoy, ya sea mañana. Whether it be today or tomorrow. |
| bien... bien | either... or | Used for alternating options in a slightly more formal tone. | Bien vienes, bien te quedas. Either you come, or you stay. |
| sea... sea | be it... or | Very useful for listing possibilities or conditions. | Sea por mar, sea por aire. Be it by sea or by air. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pero and sino in Spanish?
Both translate as 'but' in English, but they work differently. Pero introduces a contrast or objection: Tengo hambre, pero no tengo dinero (I'm hungry, but I have no money). Sino is used after a negative statement to introduce a direct correction: No es rojo, sino naranja (It's not red, but rather orange). The key rule: sino requires the first clause to be negative, and it directly replaces what was just said.
When do you use e instead of y in Spanish?
The conjunction y (and) changes to e before any word that begins with the i sound — this includes words starting with i or hi. This avoids an awkward repetition of the same sound. Examples: padres e hijos (fathers and children), español e inglés (Spanish and English). Exception: if the word starts with hie (like hielo — ice), y is kept because the pronunciation differs: agua y hielo.
When do you use u instead of o in Spanish?
The conjunction o (or) changes to u before any word beginning with the o sound — words starting with o or ho. This prevents the two identical sounds running together. Examples: siete u ocho (seven or eight), mujer u hombre (woman or man), plata u oro (silver or gold). This rule is purely phonetic and only applies when the next word begins with that specific sound.
What is the difference between sino and si no in Spanish?
Sino (one word) means 'but rather' and corrects a negative statement: No quiero café, sino té (I don't want coffee, but rather tea). Si no (two words) means 'if not' or 'otherwise': Estudia, si no suspenderás (Study, otherwise you'll fail). When sino is followed by a full verb clause, use sino que: No caminó, sino que corrió (He didn't walk, but rather ran).
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