But

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Table of contents

1 English

1.1 Pronunciation
1.2 Conjunction

1.2.1 Usage note
1.2.2 Synonyms
1.2.3 Homophones
1.2.4 Translations

2 French

2.3 Noun

2.3.5 Pronunciation
2.3.6 Homophones

2.4 Verb

2.4.7 Pronunciation

3 Polish

English

Introducing a clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence.
You told me I could do that but she said that I could not.
But that is not what you told me.
Except
I like everything but that.

Beginning a sentence with but or any other conjunction is considered incorrect by classical grammarians, but use of the word in this way is very common. It is however best to avoid beginning a sentence with but in formal writing.

Bavarian: oba (1), aussa (2)
Catalan: però, emperò, mes
Czech: ale (1), jenže (1), kromě (2), vyjma (2)
Dutch: maar (1), echter (1), behalve (2)
Esperanto: sed (1), tamen (1), escepte (2)
Finnish: mutta (1), paitsi (2)
French: mais (1), cependant (1); sauf (2)
Frisian: mar
German: aber (1), sondern (1), ausser (2)
Hebrew: אבל,אך
Indonesian: tapi / tetapi / namun (1), kecuali (2)
Italian: ma (1), però (1); salvo (2), a parte (2)
Japanese: しかし (shikashi) / が (ga) / でも (demo) / けれども (keredomo) / けれど (keredo) (1), 以外 (いがい, igai) / のぞく (nozoku) (2)
Korean: 그러나 (geureona)
Persian: وَلی (væli)
Romanian: dar
Spanish: pero (1), mas (?)
Swedish: men (1), förutom (2)
Turkish: ama, ancak, hariç