This is the 18th most frequent Portuguese word.
mas
"Mas" in Portuguese means "but" in English.
Here, 'mas' is a conjunction used to present a contrast or exception between two ideas.
Eu quero sair, mas está chovendo.
I want to go out, but it is raining.
In this example, 'mas' introduces an elaboration or nuance to the preceding statement, providing a contrasting detail.
Não é que eu não goste, mas prefiro outra cor.
It's not that I don't like it, but I prefer another color.
Here, 'mas' connects contrasting situations, highlighting an inconsistency or contradiction between the two clauses.