pero (Spanish)

Where does "pero" come from?

The Spanish conjunction 'pero' (but) evolved from the Late Latin phrase 'per hoc,' which literally meant 'through this' and was used to express 'for this reason.' Over time, this logical connection shifted in meaning as the phrase simplified, eventually cementing itself in Old Spanish as a versatile tool for introducing contrast.

Full etymology tree

• pero (Spanish), 'but'
  • inherited pero (Old Spanish), 'but; yet'
    • inherited per hoc (Latin), 'for this reason, on this account'
      • compound per (Latin), 'through, by means of'
        • inherited *per (Proto-Italic), 'through, by means of'
          • inherited *per- (Proto-Indo-European), 'before, in front'
      • compound hoc (Latin), 'nominative/accusative neuter singular of hic (“this”)'
        • compound *hod (Latin)
          • inherited *hod (Proto-Italic)
            • compound *gʰe (Proto-Indo-European), 'Postpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact'
            • compound *ḱe (Proto-Indo-European), 'Deictic particle, here'
        • compound -ce (Latin), 'affixed, usually to demonstratives, forming deixes'
          • inherited *ke (Proto-Italic), 'here'
            • inherited *ḱe (Proto-Indo-European), 'Deictic particle, here'

Ancestors

• pero (Old Spanish)
• per hoc (Latin)

Cognates and doublets

• però (Italian)

Descendants and derived words

• pero (Chavacano)
• pero (Rapa Nui)
• pero bueno (Spanish)
• pero que muy (Spanish)
• pero (Tagalog)
• pero (Tetelcingo Nahuatl)

Updated June 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris