English but covers several kinds of contrast that Greek keeps partly separate. Αλλά and μα oppose one clause or constituent to another. Όμως behaves more like mobile however. Παρά, in its corrective use, rejects one candidate after a negative and replaces it with another: “not X but rather Y.”
αλλά: the neutral default
Αλλά is the ordinary neutral conjunction for opposition in speech and writing. It stands at the beginning of the contrasting constituent or clause.
Θέλω να έρθω, αλλά πρέπει να δουλέψω.
thélo na értho, alá prépi na dhulépso
I want to come, but I have to work.
Το σπίτι είναι μικρό αλλά πολύ φωτεινό.
to spíti íne mikró alá polí fotinó
The house is small but very bright.
Δεν είναι ακριβό, αλλά χρειάζεται επισκευή.
dhen íne akrivó, alá chriázete episkeví
It isn't expensive, but it needs repairs.
The two sides need not be logical opposites. It is enough that the second limits an expectation created by the first: a small house might be expected to feel cramped, yet this one is bright.
μα: conversational or expressive “but”
Μα can replace αλλά, especially in lively conversation, objection, and literary narration. It often feels shorter and more expressive, but it is not slang or ungrammatical in careful prose.
Προσπάθησα να τον προλάβω, μα είχε ήδη φύγει.
prospáthisa na ton prolávo, ma íche ídhi fíyi
I tried to catch him, but he had already left.
Μα δεν σου είπα να περιμένεις;
ma dhen su ípa na periménis;
But didn't I tell you to wait?
In the second example, μα does discourse work: it marks the question as an objection to what has happened. Neutral αλλά would be possible in a larger sentence, but μα is idiomatic in the immediate challenge.
όμως: “however” with positional freedom
Όμως expresses contrast like αλλά, but it can occupy more than one position. It may introduce the contrasting clause, follow its first constituent, or appear near the end when the clause is short.
Ήρθε στην ώρα του, όμως δεν έμεινε.
írthe stin óra tu, ómos dhen émine
He arrived on time, but he didn't stay.
Ήρθε στην ώρα του· δεν έμεινε όμως.
írthe stin óra tu; dhen émine ómos
He arrived on time; he didn't stay, however.
Η λύση αυτή, όμως, κοστίζει πολύ.
i lísi aftí, ómos, kostízi polí
This solution, however, costs a lot.
This mobility is the clearest difference from αλλά, which normally marks the left edge of what it contrasts. Initial Όμως is neutral in speech and writing; parenthetical or clause-final placement puts special rhythm on the contrast.
The more formal ωστόσο also means “however” and commonly links sentences in careful, journalistic, or academic prose.
Τα στοιχεία είναι περιορισμένα· ωστόσο, η τάση είναι σαφής.
ta stichía íne periorizména; ostóso, i tási íne safís
The evidence is limited; however, the trend is clear. (formal)
παρά: correction after a negative
Corrective παρά means “but rather.” A preceding negative rejects X, and the παρά-phrase supplies Y as the correct alternative.
Δεν ήθελε τσάι παρά καφέ.
dhen íthele tsái pará kafé
She didn't want tea but rather coffee. (careful)
Δεν ήταν θυμωμένος παρά απογοητευμένος.
dhen ítan thimoménos pará apoghoitevménos
He wasn't angry but rather disappointed. (careful)
Δεν πρόκειται για λάθος παρά για συνειδητή επιλογή.
dhen prókite ya láthos pará ya sinidhití epiloyí
This is not a mistake but a deliberate choice. (formal)
In everyday conversation, αλλά often appears in the same corrective frame and is fully grammatical:
Δεν θέλω τσάι αλλά καφέ.
dhen thélo tsái alá kafé
I don't want tea; I want coffee. (everyday)
The distinction is pragmatic rather than truth-conditional: παρά foregrounds precise replacement and sounds more careful. It is not the conjunction for any ordinary English but. The word has other uses—“except,” “despite,” comparison, and prepositional meanings—which do not require this negative corrective frame.
Contrast versus concession
Αλλά and όμως connect two assertions directly. Concessive subordinators such as αν και and παρόλο που package the first fact as an obstacle that failed to prevent the second.
Αν και έβρεχε, βγήκαμε βόλτα.
an ke évreche, vyíkame vólta
Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
Παρόλο που ήταν κουρασμένη, συνέχισε να δουλεύει.
parólo pu ítan kurazméni, sinéchise na dhulévi
Even though she was tired, she kept working.
English but and although cannot normally introduce the same clause at once, and Greek similarly chooses between coordination and concession. The full concessive inventory belongs to concessive conjunctions.
Common Mistakes
1. Omitting the tonos from όμως. This polysyllabic connector is always written with stress on the first syllable.
❌ Η λύση είναι πρακτική, ομως κοστίζει πολύ.
Incorrect—the connector is spelled όμως, with a tonos.
✅ Η λύση είναι πρακτική, όμως κοστίζει πολύ.
i lísi íne praktikí, ómos kostízi polí
The solution is practical, but it costs a lot.
2. Stranding αλλά at the end like English ‘though.’
❌ Ήθελε να ξεκουραστεί, πήγε στη δουλειά αλλά.
Incorrect—αλλά introduces the contrasting constituent; it cannot be stranded clause-finally.
✅ Ήθελε να ξεκουραστεί, αλλά πήγε στη δουλειά.
íthele na ksekurastí, alá píye sti dhuliá
He wanted to rest, but he went to work.
3. Stacking αλλά and corrective παρά.
❌ Δεν ήθελε τσάι αλλά παρά καφέ.
Incorrect—choose one corrective linker, not both together.
✅ Δεν ήθελε τσάι παρά καφέ.
dhen íthele tsái pará kafé
She didn't want tea but rather coffee. (careful)
Key Takeaways
- αλλά is neutral clause-initial “but”; μα is a more conversational or expressive alternative.
- όμως means “however” and may be initial, parenthetical, or later in its clause.
- Corrective παρά follows a negative: “not X but rather Y”; everyday αλλά is also possible in that frame.
- αν και / παρόλο που subordinate a conceded obstacle; they do not simply coordinate two assertions.
Related Topics
- Coordinating ConjunctionsB1 — Coordinate equal Greek words and clauses with και, ή, ούτε, αλλά, όμως, παρά, and λοιπόν, including the paired forms both…and, either…or, and neither…nor.
- Concession: αν και, παρόλο που, μολονότιB1 — Greek concession presents a fact or possibility that might have blocked the main event but did not, using αν και, παρόλο που, μολονότι, ενώ, and even-if expressions.
- Contrast Markers: όμως, ωστόσο, αντίθεταB1 — Signal contrast between Greek sentences with markers that reverse expectations, oppose positions, balance considerations, or limit a claim.