No Entanto vs. Porém: How to Say ‘However’ in Portuguese
Both expressions mean ‘however,’ but sentence flow and punctuation affect how smoothly the contrast reads.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
No entanto means however or nevertheless. It links a new point to the sentence before it, often showing that the second fact limits or contrasts with the first. In writing, it commonly appears after a full stop or between commas.
Use no entanto to qualify the previous idea
A connector does not erase the first idea; it tells the reader how the next one relates to it.
O relatório está claro. No entanto, ainda faltam alguns dados.
The report is clear. However, some data is still missing.
A viagem foi curta; foi, no entanto, muito especial.
The trip was short; it was, however, very special.
Use porém in a similar contrast
Porém also means however. It can begin a contrasting sentence or appear after a comma. It often sounds more formal than mas in everyday speech, though speakers use it in conversation too.
Avoid stacking several contrast words in the same clause. Choose mas, porém, or no entanto according to the tone and sentence structure you want.
Queria ficar mais tempo, porém precisava voltar ao trabalho.
I wanted to stay longer; however, I needed to return to work.
O restaurante é pequeno. A comida, porém, é excelente.
The restaurant is small. The food, however, is excellent.
Choose punctuation that makes the contrast easy to follow
Use a full stop when the second idea can stand alone. Use a comma around a mid-sentence connector when it interrupts the sentence. A semicolon may connect two closely related independent clauses in more formal writing.
For a short spoken contrast, mas is usually the simplest choice. No entanto and porém help vary a written explanation without changing the core meaning.
A proposta é interessante. Porém, precisamos revisar o orçamento.
The proposal is interesting. However, we need to review the budget.
O prazo é apertado; no entanto, o projeto ainda é viável.
The deadline is tight; nevertheless, the project is still feasible.
Put it into practice
Use no entanto or porém to introduce a limitation or contrasting fact, and punctuate the sentence so the relationship is clear.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I wanted to stay longer; however, I needed to return to work”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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