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German frequency list

No. 87 in German

sondern

"Instead" or "but rather" (used to contrast).

In a sentence

  • Er ist nicht müde, sondern konzentriert.

    He is not tired but rather focused.

    Here, 'sondern' is used to contrast two mutually exclusive states or ideas, emphasizing that one is true instead of the other.

  • Ich esse keinen Fisch, sondern Gemüse.

    I don't eat fish, but rather vegetables.

    The word 'sondern' distinguishes the two items, specifying what is actually being referred to as a preference or truth over the other.

  • Wir fahren nicht nach Berlin, sondern nach Hamburg.

    We are not traveling to Berlin, but rather to Hamburg.

    In this case, 'sondern' points out an alternative destination, clarifying the correct information.

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