Learn Spanish (Latin America): Ella no es sociable, más bien es chismosa. - She isn't sociable; she is rather gossipy.

Ella no es sociable, más bien es chismosa.

She isn't sociable; she is rather gossipy.

Breakdown of Ella no es sociable, más bien es chismosa.

Questions & Answers about Ella no es sociable, más bien es chismosa.

Why use más bien here instead of sino?

While sino translates to "but rather" and corrects a negative statement, it usually directly replaces the rejected element without repeating the verb (for example, Ella no es sociable sino chismosa). Using más bien adds a softer, more conversational nuance meaning "rather" or "more accurately," and it usually introduces a full, complete clause.

Why is the verb es repeated after más bien?

Más bien acts as a phrase introducing a new independent thought that clarifies the previous one. Repeating the verb (es chismosa) makes the correction feel complete and balanced. If you used sino, you would typically drop the second verb.

Could I use mejor dicho in this sentence instead of más bien?

Yes, you could say Ella no es sociable, o mejor dicho, es chismosa. However, más bien feels more natural here for contrasting two distinct qualities. Mejor dicho is most commonly used when you catch yourself making a mistake mid-sentence and want to rephrase your own wording, whereas más bien is perfect for contrasting a negative statement with the actual truth.

What noun does the adjective chismosa come from?