English but covers two different relations. Catalan marks the difference: però adds a contrasting fact that remains compatible with the first, while sinó replaces something that has just been rejected with no. When the replacement is a full finite clause, Catalan uses sinó que.
The accents are essential. Catalan writes però and sinó, unlike Spanish pero and sino. It also distinguishes the conjunction sinó (“but rather”) from the two-word sequence si no (“if not”).
The decision table
| Relationship | Choose | Test | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| ordinary contrast; both claims remain true | però | Can A and B coexist? | A, però B |
| correction of a negated word or phrase | sinó | Does B replace the rejected A in the same slot? | no A, sinó B |
| correction with a new finite clause | sinó que | Does B contain its own conjugated verb? | no A, sinó que B |
| condition plus negation | si no | Could it mean “if that does not happen”? | Si no..., ... |
This contrast is structural, not merely a matter of style. Replacing sinó with però can change a correction into two coexisting assertions.
Però: two truths in tension
Use però when the second element limits, surprises, or contrasts with the first without cancelling it. Both propositions remain asserted.
El pis és petit, però té molta llum tot el dia.
The apartment is small, but it gets a lot of light all day.
Volíem anar a la platja, però al migdia ha començat a ploure.
We wanted to go to the beach, but it started raining at midday.
No tinc cotxe, però et puc acompanyar fins a l'estació amb autobús.
I don't have a car, but I can go with you to the station by bus.
The third sentence is the most important diagnostic. The first clause is negative, yet però is correct because “I can accompany you” does not replace “I have a car.” The two facts coexist: no car, but an offer of help.
Però can join phrases as well as full clauses, although clause-level use is most transparent:
És una solució cara però eficaç per a edificis antics.
It's an expensive but effective solution for old buildings.
No comma is normally needed between two short coordinated adjectives. Between two independent clauses, a comma before però is the safe standard pattern. (informal) In conversation, però can also appear at the end as an emphatic protest—Que tard que és, però!—but that discourse use is not the basic conjunction taught here.
Sinó: reject A and substitute B
Use sinó in the corrective frame no A, sinó B. B occupies the same grammatical or semantic slot as A and supplies the intended alternative.
No quedarem dissabte, sinó diumenge després de dinar.
We're not meeting on Saturday, but rather on Sunday after lunch.
La capsa no és de fusta, sinó de cartró reciclat.
The box isn't made of wood, but of recycled cardboard.
No ha trucat la directora, sinó el seu ajudant.
It wasn't the director who called, but her assistant.
In each example the pairs are parallel: dissabte / diumenge, de fusta / de cartró, la directora / el seu ajudant. Only the second member survives as the correct identification. English often says plain “but,” but “but rather” or “instead” exposes the Catalan logic.
Compare this minimal pair:
No és gaire barat, però funciona molt bé.
It isn't very cheap, but it works very well. — Two compatible claims.
No és barat, sinó caríssim.
It isn't cheap; it's extremely expensive. — Caríssim replaces barat on the same scale.
The first needs però because performance does not replace price. The second needs sinó because the speaker corrects the price description.
The negative need not be immediately before the corrected word, but the scope must be recoverable. In No va ser la Joana qui ho va decidir, sinó el comitè, the clefted subject la Joana is rejected and el comitè replaces it. See negative scope for more complex placements.
Sinó que: the replacement is a clause
Plain sinó connects a replacement phrase. Add que when the corrective member contains its own finite verb and forms a clause.
No han cancel·lat el concert, sinó que l'han traslladat al teatre municipal.
They haven't canceled the concert; rather, they've moved it to the municipal theater.
La Júlia no treballa des de casa, sinó que comparteix un estudi amb dues arquitectes.
Júlia doesn't work from home; instead, she shares a studio with two architects.
No et demano que hi estiguis d'acord, sinó que escoltis tota l'explicació.
I'm not asking you to agree, but rather to listen to the whole explanation.
In the final example, the two corrected objects are subordinate que-clauses. Their subjunctives estiguis and escoltis are licensed by demanar, which expresses a request; sinó que coordinates the two alternatives and does not independently select mood.
A useful contrast is:
No comprarem el model gran, sinó el petit.
We won't buy the large model, but the small one. — Noun phrase replacement.
No comprarem el model gran, sinó que repararem el que ja tenim.
We won't buy the large model; instead, we'll repair the one we already have. — Full clause replacement.
The repeated que in sinó que repararem el que ja tenim has two jobs in two places: the first que introduces the corrective clause, while el que is a fused relative meaning “the one that/what.” They should not be conflated.
No només... sinó (que) també
The correlative construction no només A, sinó (que) també B means “not only A but also B.” Despite the initial no, it affirms both members and presents B as an important addition. Learn it as a paired structure.
L'exposició no només explica el projecte, sinó que també mostra els primers esbossos.
The exhibition not only explains the project but also displays the first sketches.
Hi participaran no només estudiants, sinó també professorat i personal tècnic.
Not only students but also teaching and technical staff will take part.
Use sinó que també before a full clause and sinó també before a phrase. No solament... sinó també... is a neutral-to-(formal) variant. The exact distribution of també can vary, but parallelism should remain visible.
Sinó versus si no
The conjunction sinó is one accented word. Si no contains the conditional conjunction si followed by negation and means “if not / if ... not.” Pronunciation may be close, but syntax and spelling differ.
Afanya't; si no, perdrem l'últim tren cap a Manresa.
Hurry up; otherwise, we'll miss the last train to Manresa.
No agafarem el tren, sinó l'autobús nocturn.
We won't take the train, but rather the night bus.
In the first, si no stands for a negative condition: “if you don't hurry.” In the second, sinó corrects the rejected vehicle. (formal) altrament can replace conditional si no in some written contexts, but not corrective sinó.
Punctuation, scope, and register
A comma normally precedes corrective sinó or sinó que when they connect substantial phrases or clauses. With short paired adjectives, punctuation can be lighter, but the corrective relation commonly receives a spoken pause: no blanc, sinó cru. A comma normally precedes clause-level però.
Do not use commas to decide the connector after the fact. First determine whether B coexists with A or replaces the negated A; punctuation then displays that structure.
All three forms—però, sinó, sinó que—are standard across the Catalan-speaking territories. Valencian, Balearic, Northwestern, Northern, and Alguerese speech may prefer different discourse alternatives in particular contexts, but there is no regional license to omit the written accents in standard Catalan. (literary) ans can mean “but rather” in elevated or older prose; modern learners should recognize it, not substitute it for everyday sinó.
Natural dialogue
—La reunió és dimarts? —No, no és dimarts, sinó dijous. —Al matí? —No començarà al matí, sinó que la faran després de dinar. —Perfecte; dijous treballo, però a les quatre ja hauré acabat. —Doncs no només hi podràs venir, sinó que també ens podràs ajudar a preparar la sala.
Is the meeting on Tuesday? —No, it isn't Tuesday but Thursday. —In the morning? —It won't start in the morning; they're holding it after lunch. —Perfect; I work on Thursday, but by four I'll be finished. —Then not only will you be able to come, you'll also be able to help us prepare the room.
The dialogue contrasts phrase correction (sinó dijous), clause correction (sinó que la faran...), compatible facts (treballo, però...), and the additive correlative (no només... sinó que també).
Common Mistakes
1. Omitting the Catalan accents under Spanish influence.
❌ Volia venir, pero no tenia temps.
Incorrect spelling—Catalan però takes a grave accent.
✅ Volia venir, però no tenia temps.
I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.
2. Using però for a direct correction.
❌ No és a la primera planta, però a la segona.
Incorrect—the second floor replaces the rejected first floor, so use sinó.
✅ No és a la primera planta, sinó a la segona.
It isn't on the first floor, but on the second.
3. Using plain sinó before a finite corrective clause.
❌ No ho enviarem avui, sinó ho revisarem una vegada més.
Incorrect—the correction contains its own finite verb, revisarem, so sinó que is required.
✅ No ho enviarem avui, sinó que ho revisarem una vegada més.
We won't send it today; instead, we'll review it once more.
4. Writing sinó when the meaning is conditional “if not.”
❌ Porta el rebut; sinó, no et podran tornar els diners.
Incorrect spelling for the conditional expression 'if not.'
✅ Porta el rebut; si no, no et podran tornar els diners.
Bring the receipt; otherwise, they won't be able to refund you.
Short correction task
Repair the connectors in No és una avaria greu, però una actualització pendent; sino no l'instal·lem, el programa funcionarà, sinó donarà errors. A coherent version is: No és una avaria greu, sinó una actualització pendent; si no la instal·lem, el programa funcionarà, però donarà errors. The noun phrase is corrective, the next sequence is a condition, and the last clause adds a compatible contrast.
Key Takeaways
Use però when both sides remain true, even if the first side is negative. Use sinó only when B replaces a negated A in the same role, and sinó que when that replacement is a finite clause. Keep si no separate for “if not,” preserve the accents in però and sinó, and use the test “coexistence or correction?” before translating English but.
Now practice Catalan
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Start learning Catalan →Related Topics
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- Negation Scope and AmbiguityB2 — Identify what Catalan no negates around constituents, quantifiers, modals, subordinate clauses, and spoken focus, then disambiguate by paraphrasing.
- Acute and Grave AccentsA1 — Choose the correct Catalan accent direction and use é, è, ó, and ò to preserve stressed vowel quality.