mee / awer
But and However: Mee and Awer
Mee means but and does not change the word order. Awer means however or though and usually comes after the verb: Hien ass awer net komm.
How It Works
1. Mee: but
Mee joins two main clauses. It does not count as the first place, so the second clause keeps its usual order, subject and then verb. See Or and But: Oder and Mee.
- Ech wollt kommen, mee ech hat keng Zäit. (I wanted to come, but I did not have time.)
After a negative, mee means but rather and corrects what came before: Hatt wunnt net zu Esch, mee zu Diddeleng. (She does not live in Esch but in Dudelange.)
The spellings ma and mä are also used for this conjunction. Do not confuse it with the particle ma that starts reactions in speech, as in Ma dach!
2. Awer inside the clause: however, though
Most often awer is an adverb. It stands after the conjugated verb, often near net:
- Mir hunn hien invitéiert. Hien ass awer net komm. (We invited him. He did not come, though.)
- Den Hotel ass deier, d'Zëmmer sinn awer grouss. (The hotel is expensive; the rooms are big, though.)
3. Awer at the start: but
Awer can also join two clauses like mee. The second clause then keeps its normal order: Mir hu laang gewaart, awer de Bus ass net komm.
4. Awer for emphasis
In speech, awer can add surprise or insistence: Dat ass awer schéin! (That really is nice!) See Small Words That Add Feeling.
5. Not aber
The German word aber is not Luxembourgish. Use mee or awer.
Examples (5)
- Ech wollt kommen, mee ech hat keng Zäit.
I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.
After mee the subject ech comes first, as in any main clause.
- Hatt wunnt net zu Esch, mee zu Diddeleng.
She doesn't live in Esch but in Dudelange.
After a negative, mee corrects what was said.
- Den Hotel ass deier, d'Zëmmer sinn awer grouss.
The hotel is expensive, but the rooms are big.
Awer stands after the verb sinn.
- Mir hunn hien invitéiert. Hien ass awer net komm.
We invited him. He didn't come, though.
Awer inside the second sentence means however or though.
- Mir hu laang gewaart, awer de Bus ass net komm.
We waited a long time, but the bus didn't come.
Here awer joins the clauses like mee, and the word order stays the same.
Common Mistakes
Putting the verb right after mee.
Ech wollt kommen, mee hat ech keng Zäit.Ech wollt kommen, mee ech hat keng Zäit.Mee does not take the first place, so the subject ech still comes before the verb.
Using the German word aber.
Ech si midd, aber ech schaffen nach.Ech si midd, mee ech schaffen nach.Aber is German. In Luxembourgish, say mee (or awer).
Using mee inside the clause to mean however.
Hien ass mee net komm.Hien ass awer net komm.Mee always stands at the start of what it joins, between two clauses or two phrases. Inside a clause, after the verb, use awer.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before But and However: Mee and Awer, learn Or and But: Oder and Mee and Also, Still and Already: Och, Nach, Schonn.
Related Patterns
- trotzdeemNevertheless: Trotzdeem
Trotzdeem is a stronger way to say however or anyway.
Level 3 - obwuelAlthough: Obwuel
Obwuel expresses a contrast with the verb at the end.
Level 3 - an (And)And: An
An also joins two main clauses without changing word order.
Level 1 - Small Words That Add Feeling: dach / jo / molSmall Words That Add Feeling: Dach, Jo, Mol
Awer can add emphasis like the particles dach and jo.
Level 4 - netNegation with Net
Awer often stands next to net: Hien ass awer net komm.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice mee / awer in Bubblegum
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