mas
Lemma Details
Translation: but; however; yet; nevertheless
Part of Speech: conjunction
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'magis' meaning 'more'. It evolved in Spanish to become a contrastive conjunction. The Latin 'magis' is also the root of English words like 'magnify' and 'magnitude', though the meaning diverged significantly in Spanish 'mas' to express contrast rather than quantity.
Commonality: 40%
Guessability: 30%
Register: literary
Mnemonics
- Think of 'mas' as 'but' with the 's' standing for 'still' or 'switch' - indicating a contrast or change in direction.
- Remember that 'mas' (without accent) means 'but', while 'más' (with accent) means 'more'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
While 'mas' is a valid Spanish word, it's considered somewhat literary or formal in modern Spanish. In everyday speech and writing, 'pero' is much more commonly used to express the meaning of 'but'. 'Mas' appears more frequently in literature, poetry, and formal discourse.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Mas' (without accent) is a conjunction meaning 'but', while 'más' (with accent) is an adverb meaning 'more'.
Confused word:
Necesito más tiempo.
I need more time.
Notes: The accent mark completely changes the meaning and part of speech. 'Más' (with accent) is much more common in everyday Spanish than 'mas' (without accent).
Mnemonic: No accent means 'but', accent means 'more'.