Linking words: y/e, o/u, pero, porque

Joining words and ideas

A linking word (grammar books say conjunction) joins two words or two parts of a sentence. The four most useful:

• Tengo un perro y un gato.I have a dog and a cat.
• ¿Quieres té o café?Do you want tea or coffee?
• Es caro, pero es muy bueno.It's expensive, but it's very good.
• Estudio español porque quiero viajar.I'm studying Spanish because I want to travel.
• Me gusta el cine, pero no tengo tiempo.I like the cinema, but I don't have time.

Y becomes e

Y is pronounced like Spanish i. To avoid two identical sounds in a row, y becomes e before a word starting with the sound /i/: i- or hi- (the h is silent).

• Hablo español e inglés.I speak Spanish and English.
• María e Isabel son hermanas.María and Isabel are sisters.

But not before hie- or hia-, which start with a y sound: agua y hielo.

• Quiero agua y hielo.I want water and ice.

O becomes u

In the same way, o becomes u before a word starting with the sound /o/: o- or ho-.

• Hay siete u ocho personas.There are seven or eight people.
• ¿Es Pedro u Óscar?Is it Pedro or Óscar?

These changes depend on the sound of the next word, not the letter: padre e hijo (hi- sounds /i/), but mujeres y hombres (y only changes before /i/, and hombres starts with /o/).

Pero and porque

Pero introduces a contrast. Porque gives a reason. Don't confuse porque (because, one word) with ¿por qué? (why, two words with an accent): Every question word: qué, cuál, quién, cuánto, por qué….

Later you will learn sino for "not this but that": pero, sino, sino que.

Common mistakes

• español y inglés → español e inglés. Before an /i/ sound, y becomes e.
• agua e hielo → agua y hielo. Hie- starts with a y sound, so no change.
• siete o ocho → siete u ocho. Before an /o/ sound, o becomes u.
• Estudio por qué tengo un examen. → Estudio porque tengo un examen.
• No es caro pero barato → No es caro, sino barato (that is sino, coming at B1).