Polyglot Dictionary

sondern

/ˈzɔndɐn/

conjunction A2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Conj Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral

Meaning

  1. but rather (used after a negative to contrast, in the pattern nicht ... sondern)

    Only follows a negation. Contrasts with aber, which can follow either a positive or negative clause.

    • Das ist nicht rot, sondern orange.

      That's not red, but rather orange.

Similar words

aber

aber is the general word for "but" and can follow a positive or negative statement; sondern only follows a negation, replacing the rejected idea with the correct one.

Practice

1 What does sondern mean?

2 Fill the gap: Das ist nicht rot, ___ orange.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches sondern?

conjunctioncore-vocabulary

Last updated