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🔗Connectors

But, because, although, so — the logic of a sentence.

13 concepts

Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.

ConceptEnglishFrançaisEspañol
and
preposition
and
ænd
Usually reduced to /ənd/ or /ən/: fish 'n' chips.
et
e
Never liaison after et: 'et un' = /e œ̃/, not /et œ̃/.
y
i
Becomes e before an i-/hi- sound: padre e hijo, Francia e Italia.
or
preposition
or
ɔː
also: either … or
ou
u
Où (with accent) = where. Same sound, different word.
o
o
Becomes u before an o-/ho- sound: siete u ocho, mujeres u hombres.
but
preposition
but
bʌt
Weak form /bət/.
mais
Homophone of mes, met, mets.
pero
ˈpeɾo
also: sino (after a negative: no es rojo, sino azul)
Perro (two r's) = dog — tap vs trill matters.
because
preposition
because
bɪˈkɒz
also: 'cause, since, as
parce que
paʁs kə
also: car (written/formal), puisque (since)
Parce qu'il… before a vowel. Answer to pourquoi.
porque
ˈpoɾke
One word = because; ¿por qué? (two words, accent) = why; el porqué = the reason.
so / therefore
preposition
so
səʊ
also: therefore, that's why
donc
dɔ̃k
also: alors, du coup (very informal, everywhere now)
Final c pronounced — except sometimes in 'dis donc'.
así que
aˈsi ke
also: entonces, por eso, por lo tanto
if
preposition
if
ɪf
also: whether
si
si
S' before il/ils only: s'il pleut (but si elle pleut). Also 'yes' to a negative question.
si
si
Sí (accent) = yes. Si = if.
although
preposition
although
ɔːlˈðəʊ
also: though, even though
bien que
bjɛ̃ kə
also: même si (+ indicative), quoique
Bien que + subjunctive: bien qu'il soit tard.
aunque
ˈaʊŋke
+ indicative for facts, + subjunctive for hypotheticals.
when
preposition
when
wɛn
also: whenever
quand
kɑ̃
also: lorsque (written)
Liaison: quand il = /kɑ̃ til/.
cuando
ˈkwando
¿Cuándo? (accent) = the question.
while
preposition
while
waɪl
also: whilst (UK, formal), whereas (contrast)
pendant que
pɑ̃dɑ̃ kə
also: tandis que (contrast), alors que
mientras
ˈmjentɾas
Mientras que = whereas (contrast).
however / nevertheless
adverb
however
haʊˈɛvə
also: nevertheless, still, yet
cependant
səpɑ̃dɑ̃
also: pourtant, toutefois, néanmoins
sin embargo
sin emˈbaɾɣo
also: no obstante, aun así
Nothing to do with a trade embargo — 'without hindrance'.
for example
phrase
for example
fəɹ ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl
also: for instance, e.g.
par exemple
paʁ ɛɡzɑ̃pl
Abbreviation p. ex. 'Non mais par exemple !' = well I never!
por ejemplo
poɾ eˈxemplo
Abbreviation p. ej.
that (I think that…)
preposition
that
ðæt
Usually dropped: I think (that) it's late. Weak form /ðət/.
que
NEVER dropped: je pense qu'il est tard. Qu' before a vowel.
que
ke
Never dropped: creo que es tarde. Qué (accent) = what / how.
in order to / to
preposition
in order to
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
also: to, so as to
pour
puʁ
also: afin de (formal)
Pour + infinitive: je travaille pour vivre.
para
ˈpaɾa
Para + infinitive = purpose. Por = cause/exchange — the por/para chapter of every textbook.