Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions link elements of equal grammatical value, such as two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, or two clauses. This short guide covers the main Spanish coordinating conjunctions with brief examples.
Key Conjunctions
The primary coordinating conjunctions in Spanish are y, o, pero, ni, and porque (which is technically subordinating but often functions coordinately in speech). Each one serves a specific linking function: addition, choice, contrast, negation, or cause.
| Spanish Word | English Word |
|---|---|
| y | and |
| o | or |
| pero | but |
| ni | nor / not even |
| porque | because |
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☝️ Quiero café, pero no tengo dinero. | I want coffee, but I have no money. | Contrast |
| 👍 Tienes dinero y yo tengo café. | You have money and I have coffee. | Addition |
| ☕ Voy al café o quedamos en el parque. | I’m going to the café or we meet at the park. | Alternative |
| 💤 Quiero quedarme, pero estoy muy cansado. | I want to stay, but I am very tired. | Contrast |
| 📍 Llegamos temprano, y así conseguimos mesa. | We arrived early, and so we got a table. | Cause/Effect |
| 🍰 No comí mucho, pero probé de todo. | I didn’t eat much, but I tried a bit of everything. | Contrast |
| 🥤 ¿Quieres café o jugo? | Do you want coffee or juice? | Choice |
| 👫 Ella pidió té, y él pidió café. | She ordered tea, and he ordered coffee. | Addition |
| 🚶 Salimos ahora, o esperamos a Lola. | We leave now, or we wait for Lola. | Alternative |
| 🎉 No llegó temprano, pero la fiesta igual empezó. | She didn’t arrive early, but the party still started. | Contrast |
Usage
Use y to add similar ideas, o to present alternatives, pero to introduce a contrast, ni to continue a negative series, and porque to give a reason. In Spanish, y changes to e before words that start with the sound /i/ to avoid repetition.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☝️ Quiero café, pero no tengo dinero. | I want coffee, but I have no money. |
| 👍 Tienes dinero y yo tengo café. | You have money and I have coffee. |
| ☕ Voy al café o quedamos en el parque. | I’m going to the café or we meet at the park. |
| 🥱 Quiero quedarme, pero estoy muy cansado. | I want to stay, but I am very tired. |
Special Notes
Remember to change y to e when it precedes a word that begins with the sound /i/, such as inteligente or ingeniero, to keep the sentence smooth. Also, use u instead of o when the next word starts with /o/ or /ho/ to avoid confusion.
Summary
Coordinating conjunctions like y, o, pero, and ni link equal elements and shape the flow of ideas. Paying attention to small changes like y → e and o → u will make your Spanish sound natural and fluent.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025