What does pues in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word pues in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pues in Spanish.

The word pues in Spanish means well, since, life is unfair, so, let's get on with it, let's do it, after all, well, in that case, Oh well, never mind, right, right then, right you are, there is, oh how nice, well isn't that nice, oh how nice, well isn't that nice, well how about that, don't worry, anyway, see you, I'm afraid not, what a [+ noun], that's a [+ noun], what a mess, now you see, me neither. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word pues

well

conjunción (indica consecuencia)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Me desobedeciste, pues ahora aguántate.
You disobeyed me, well now, deal with it.

since

conjunción (porque)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Me quedo en casa, pues tengo que estudiar.
I'm staying at home as I have to study.

life is unfair

expresión (doble castigo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Odia el frío y se tuvo que ir a vivir a Alaska. Al que no le gusta el caldo, dos tazas.
She hates the cold and had to go live in Alaska; life is unfair.

so

adverbio (en consecuencia)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
No había internet; así pues no pude trabajar.
There was no internet; so I could not work.

let's get on with it, let's do it

expresión (vamos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¡Debemos trabajar! ¡Pues a ello!
We must work! Let's get on with it!

after all

locución adverbial (a fin de cuentas)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
No te preocupes pues al fin y al cabo todo terminará bien.
Don't worry; everything will turn out OK after all.

well

expresión (bueno pues)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¿Recuerdas a mi exnovio que no te gustaba? Pues bien, se va a casar con una modelo.
Do you remember my ex boyfriend that you didn't like? Well, he's getting married to a model.

in that case

expresión (en ese caso)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Si ella va pues entonces yo no voy a ir.
If she goes, in that case, I won't go.

Oh well, never mind

expresión (coloquial (siendo así, olvídalo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
—El cielo amaneció cubierto de nubes. —Pues entonces nada. Mejor cancelemos el viaje a la playa.
- The sky's clouding over. - Never mind, we might as well call off our trip to the beach.

right, right then, right you are

expresión (eso es)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Pues eso, tal cual como te dije.
Exactly, just as I told you.

there is

expresión (pues existe)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
El jefe pidió que haya una torta y pues la hay.
The boss asked for there to be a cake and there is.

oh how nice, well isn't that nice

locución verbal (coloquial (qué suerte)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¿Ganó una beca? Pues mira qué bien.
He won a scholarship? Well, isn't that nice.

oh how nice, well isn't that nice, well how about that

locución verbal (irónico, coloquial (me da igual) (ironic)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¿Me odias? Pues mira qué bien.

don't worry, anyway

expresión (coloquial (muletilla)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Pues nada, no quiero ir a la fiesta y punto.
I don't want to go to the party, end of discussion. All right?

see you

expresión (hasta la vista)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Pues nos vemos mañana Pepe.
See you tomorrow Joe.

I'm afraid not

expresión (informal (ser poco probable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
—Todo se perdona si hay amor, ¿verdad? —Pues va a ser que no.
- If there is love everything can be forgiven, right? - I'm afraid not.

what a [+ noun], that's a [+ noun]

expresión (vaya)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¡Pues vaya error has cometido!
What a mistake you've made!

what a mess

expresión (vaya lío)

¡Pues vaya follón en el que te has metido!
What a mess you've gotten yourself into!

now you see

expresión (así son las cosas)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pues ya ves, me han dejado solo de nuevo.
Now you see, they have left me alone again.

me neither

expresión (si tú no, yo tampoco)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
"Yo no quiero ir". "Pues yo menos".
"I don't want to go." "Me neither."

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of pues in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.