але
But with Але
Але means "but": Я хачу пайсці, але не магу. (I want to go, but I can't.)
How It Works
1. What але does. The second part surprises, blocks or limits the first:
- Я хачу пайсці, але не магу. (I want to go, but I can't.)
- Дом стары, але ўтульны. (The house is old but cozy.)
- Ён малады, але ўжо доктар. (He is young, but he is already a doctor.)
2. Але or а? А simply puts two different things side by side: Я чытаю, а ён піша. Але is stronger: the second part goes against the first. If you could say "but still" or "however" in English, choose але.
3. Always a comma. Put a comma before але, both between clauses and between two words: стары, але ўтульны.
4. Watch the next word. Але ends in a vowel, so a following word that starts with an unstressed у is written with ў: але ўтульны, але ўжо.
5. Other uses. In colloquial speech але can also mean "yes, right", and Але ж і…! expresses surprise: Але ж і навальніца! (What a storm!) The Russian word но is not used for "but" in Belarusian.
Examples (6)
- Я хачу пайсці, але не магу.
I want to go, but I can't.
Word by Word: I want to-go, but not can.
- Дом стары, але ўтульны.
The house is old but cozy.
Word by Word: House old, but cozy.
Ўтульны starts with ў because але ends in a vowel.
- Кава смачная, але вельмі гарачая.
The coffee is tasty, but very hot.
Word by Word: Coffee tasty, but very hot.
- Ён малады, але ўжо доктар.
He is young, but he is already a doctor.
Word by Word: He young, but already doctor.
- Я не ведаю, але спытаю ў мамы.
I don't know, but I'll ask Mom.
Word by Word: I not know, but will-ask at Mom.
- Было холадна, але мы пайшлі гуляць.
It was cold, but we went for a walk.
Word by Word: Was cold, but we went to-walk.
Common Mistakes
Using Russian но for "but".
Дом стары, но ўтульны.Дом стары, але ўтульны.The Belarusian conjunction for "but" is але.
Leaving out the comma before але.
Я хачу але не магу.Я хачу, але не магу.A comma always comes before але.
Writing у instead of ў after але.
Дом стары, але утульны.Дом стары, але ўтульны.Але ends in a vowel, so the next word's у becomes ў.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Але follows і and а.
Related Patterns
- аднак / затоеContrast with Аднак and Затое
Аднак and затое are other ways to express contrast, a little more formal or specific.
Level 5 - хоць / хацяAlthough with Хоць and Хаця
Хоць (although) marks the same kind of contrast from the other clause: Хоць дом стары, ён утульны.
Level 4 - у / ў after a VowelУ Becomes Ў After a Vowel
Explains why a word after але starts with ў.
Level 1 - дыThe Conjunction Ды
Ды can also mean "but" in some expressions, in a more colloquial style.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice але in Bubblegum
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