Mas vs. Mais in Portuguese: “But” or “More” — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use mas to introduce a contrast
Mas usually means but. It connects an idea with a contrast, a limitation, or an unexpected result.
In writing, mas is not the same as más with an accent in Spanish. Portuguese mas has no accent mark.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quero ir, mas estou trabalhando. | I want to go, but I’m working. |
| O café é pequeno, mas muito forte. | The coffee is small, but very strong. |
| Ela entende, mas ainda não responde rápido. | She understands, but she doesn’t answer quickly yet. |
Use mais for “more” or “most”
Mais often means more and appears with quantities, comparisons, and emphasis. It can modify a noun, verb, or adjective.
For comparisons such as mais caro do que (more expensive than), review our separate article on Portuguese comparatives.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quero mais água, por favor. | I’d like more water, please. |
| Hoje caminhei mais. | I walked more today. |
| Este caminho é mais curto. | This route is shorter. |
Check the meaning before you spell
If the sentence means but, write mas. If it means more, write mais. Reading the sentence aloud can help you notice the contrast or quantity.
Both words can sound similar in fast speech. Learn them inside a sentence rather than relying on pronunciation alone.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Queria ficar mais, mas preciso ir. | I wanted to stay longer, but I need to go. |
| Não quero mais café, mas aceito água. | I don’t want any more coffee, but I’ll have water. |
| Mais tarde eu te ligo. | I’ll call you later. |
Remember: Underline the contrast word in one sentence and the quantity word in another: mas for but, mais for more.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
I want to go, but I’m working.
Show a Portuguese answer
Quero ir, mas estou trabalhando.
The coffee is small, but very strong.
Show a Portuguese answer
O café é pequeno, mas muito forte.
She understands, but she doesn’t answer quickly yet.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela entende, mas ainda não responde rápido.
I’d like more water, please.
Show a Portuguese answer
Quero mais água, por favor.
I walked more today.
Show a Portuguese answer
Hoje caminhei mais.
This route is shorter.
Show a Portuguese answer
Este caminho é mais curto.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Underline the contrast word in one sentence and the quantity word in another: mas for but, mais for more.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Mas vs. Mais in Portuguese: “But” or “More”? lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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