avšak / no
However: Avšak and No
Avšak and no stand at the very start of the contrasting clause, after a comma, just like ale. Ale is the everyday word, no is a little more written, and avšak is the most formal.
How It Works
Three ways to say but. All three stand at the start of the second clause, after a comma:
- ale: everyday and neutral: Chcel prísť, ale nestihol to.
- no: a little more written or careful: Chcel prísť, no nestihol to.
- avšak: formal and bookish: Chcel prísť, avšak nestihol to.
Some Slovak style guides prefer ale, no or však in everyday texts, so keep avšak mainly for formal writing.
avšak and však. Avšak comes from a + však and stands first in its clause. Však on its own usually comes after the first stressed word, like other second-position words. So these two sentences mean the same: Chcel prísť, avšak nestihol to. and Chcel prísť, nestihol to však.
no. As a conjunction, no simply means but. It can join clauses or single words: drahý, no kvalitný (expensive but good quality). At the start of a spoken reply, no is a different word meaning well: No, neviem. (Well, I don't know.)
Comma. A comma always stands before ale, no and avšak (see commas before conjunctions).
Examples (6)
- Chcel prísť, avšak nestihol to.
He wanted to come; however, he didn't make it.
Word by Word: He-wanted to-come, however he-did-not-make-it it.
- Snažil sa, no nepodarilo sa mu to.
He tried, but he didn't succeed.
Word by Word: He-tried himself, but it-did-not-succeed itself to-him it.
- Návrh je zaujímavý, avšak príliš drahý.
The proposal is interesting, but too expensive.
Word by Word: Proposal is interesting, however too expensive.
- Bolo to ťažké, no oplatilo sa to.
It was hard, but it was worth it.
Word by Word: It-was it hard, but it-paid-off itself it.
- Kabát bol drahý, no kvalitný.
The coat was expensive but of good quality.
Word by Word: Coat was expensive, but quality.
No can join two adjectives.
- Zmluva platí jeden rok, avšak dá sa predĺžiť.
The contract is valid for one year, but it can be extended.
Word by Word: Contract is-valid one year, however it-gives itself to-extend.
Common Mistakes
Combining ale and avšak.
Chcel prísť, ale avšak nestihol to.Chcel prísť, avšak nestihol to.Avšak already means but, so ale avšak says it twice. Use one of them.
Putting avšak later in the clause, like však.
Chcel prísť, nestihol to avšak.Chcel prísť, nestihol to však.Avšak must start its clause. If you want the word later in the clause, use však.
Leaving out the comma.
Snažil sa no nepodarilo sa mu to.Snažil sa, no nepodarilo sa mu to.A comma always stands before no, ale and avšak.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before However: avšak and no, learn However: však. avšak and no are more formal versions of však.
Related Patterns
- a / ale / aleboAnd, But and or
Ale is the everyday word for but; avšak and no are its more formal partners.
Level 1 - Unstressed Words in Second Position
Explains the second position that však takes and avšak does not.
Level 3 - zatoBut Then: Zato
Zato also contrasts, but adds the idea that one fact makes up for the other.
Level 5 - síce ... aleAdmittedly ... but
Síce prepares a contrast that ale, no or avšak then introduces.
Level 4 - Commas Before Conjunctions
A comma always stands before ale, no and avšak.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice avšak / no in Bubblegum
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