обаче

However with Обаче

Level 3Sounds Like obače

Обаче means but or however. Unlike но, it can also move inside the clause: Той обаче не знаеше.

How It Works

1. Between two clauses. Like но, обаче can begin the second clause, after a comma: Искам да дойда, обаче нямам време. It can also begin a new sentence: Обаче има един проблем. (However, there is one problem.)

2. Inside the clause. Обаче can follow the first word or phrase of the contrasting clause. This highlights that word, like English however in He, however, ...:

  • Той обаче не знаеше. (He, however, did not know.)
  • Цената е висока. Качеството обаче е отлично. (The price is high. The quality, however, is excellent.)

Но cannot move like this: it must stand at the very start of its clause.

3. Commas. Before обаче that joins two clauses, write a comma. When обаче sits inside the clause, the standard rules do not set it off with commas: Той обаче не знаеше, not Той, обаче, не знаеше.

4. Choosing among the words for but. Но and обаче mark a real contrast or an unexpected fact. А sets two different facts side by side without surprise. Въпреки че puts the contrast into the first clause: Въпреки че искам, нямам време.

Examples (5)

  1. Искам да дойда, обаче нямам време.

    I want to come; however, I have no time.

  2. Той обаче не знаеше.

    He, however, did not know.

    Обаче follows the first word, with no commas around it.

  3. Звъннах му, обаче той не вдигна.

    I called him, but he didn't pick up.

  4. Цената е висока. Качеството обаче е отлично.

    The price is high. The quality, however, is excellent.

  5. Обаче има един проблем.

    However, there is one problem.

    Обаче can start a new sentence.

Common Mistakes

  • Moving но inside the clause like обаче.

    Той но не знаеше.
    Той обаче не знаеше.

    Но must start its clause. Only обаче can follow the first word.

  • Setting off обаче with commas inside the clause.

    Той, обаче, не знаеше.
    Той обаче не знаеше.

    Inside the clause, standard Bulgarian writes обаче without commas.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

обачеLevel 3However with Обаче

Learn This First

However follows но.

Words in This Pattern

обаче