Differences between sino and si no in Spanish

One of the most common mistakes students make when writing in Spanish is confusing sino with si no. At first glance, they differ only by a space, but this small detail can completely change the meaning of a sentence in Spanish.

That's why at don Quijote we explain how and when to use “sino” or “si no”, what differences there are between them, and provide several examples and exercises that will help you identify the difference naturally. Don't think twice, improve your Spanish with us, let's do it!

You can also read this article in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Dutch.

Sino in Spanish

Let's start with “sino.” Sino can be an adversative conjunction or a noun, depending on the context.

As an adversative conjunction, it is used to contrast one idea with another, negating the first and affirming the second. “Sino” is similar to the connectors “en vez de” or “al contrario” in a sentence.

For example: “No quiero café, sino té” (I don't want coffee, but tea). Here, the idea of drinking coffee is being negated, but the idea of drinking tea is being affirmed.

As a noun, “sino” means destiny or force of destiny. However, as a noun, it is usually used in more poetic or literary contexts.

For example: “El sino de los héroes siempre es trágico” (The fate of heroes is always tragic). In this case, “sino” refers to an inevitable destiny.

Si no in Spanish

“Si no” is a construction made up of two words. “Si” is a conditional conjunction (as in “si vienes, te espero” [if you come, I'll wait for you]), while “no” is an adverb of negation. When the two words are used together, they express a negative condition.

In other words, “si no” refers to something that will happen (or not) depending on whether another action does not occur.

For example: “Te llamo, si no llegas a tiempo” (I'll call you if you don't arrive on time). In this sentence, it says that if you don't arrive on time, I'll call you.

Differences between sino and si no

Now that you know what each one is, we will explain the fundamental differences between “sino” and “si no”.

While “sino” is a single word, “si no” is two words, a conjunction and an adverb of negation. In addition, “sino” functions as an adversative conjunction or as a noun. On the other hand, “si no” is a combination of two independent words.

The main use of “sino” is to oppose or contrast a negative idea with an affirmative one. On the other hand, “si no” is used to introduce a negative condition, i.e., what happens if something does not happen.

“Sino” is equivalent to expressions such as “en vez de” (instead of) or “al contrario” (on the contrary); “si no”, on the other hand, is equivalent to “en caso de que no” (in case of).

Example:

• No era rojo, sino azul (It wasn't red, but blue)
• No quiero esto, sino aquello (I don't want this, but that)
• Te llamo, si no llegas a tiempo (I'll call you if you don't arrive on time)
• Si no haces esto, pasará aquello (If you don't do this, that will happen)

Remember to use ‘sino’ to contrast ideas and ‘si no’ for negative conditions.

Tips for not confusing sino and si no

An easy way to know whether to write “sino” or “si no” is: if you can replace it with ‘on the contrary’ or ‘instead’, use “sino”. Whereas, if you can say ‘in case you don't’, use “si no”.

Examples:

• No fue él, sino su hermano (It wasn't him, but his brother) → It wasn't him, on the contrary, it was his brother.
• Ven temprano, si no te perderás la reunión (Come early, or you'll miss the meeting) → Come early, in case you don't come, you'll miss the meeting.

Another trick that can help is, if you're unsure, separate “si” and “no”. If the sentence still makes sense when separated, then they probably go separately.

Example sentences sino vs si no

Here are some clear examples with Spanish sentence structure so you can see how “sino” and “si no” are used in Spanish:

1. No quiero salir de fiesta, sino descansar (I don't want to go out partying, I want to rest)
2. Cada uno elige su propio sino (Everyone chooses their own fate)
3. Llámame, si no puedes venir (Call me if you can't come)
4. No es tonto, sino distraído (He's not stupid, just distracted)
5. No me importa el dinero, sino la felicidad (I don't care about money, just happiness)
6. Si no estudias, suspenderás el examen (If you don't study, you'll fail the exam)
7. Tendremos problemas, si no firmamos hoy (We'll have problems if we don't sign today)
8. Si no me dices la verdad, me voy (If you don't tell me the truth, I'm leaving)
9. No compré manzanas, sino naranjas (I didn't buy apples, I bought oranges)
10. Avísame si no puedes venir a la reunión (Let me know if you can't come to the meeting)
11. Tendremos que cancelar el evento si no mejora el clima (We'll have to cancel the event if the weather doesn't improve)
12. La película no fue aburrida, sino lenta (The movie wasn't boring, it was slow)
13. Llámame si no encuentras el restaurante (Call me if you can't find the restaurant)
14. Lo importante no es el resultado, sino el esfuerzo (It's not the result that matters, it's the effort)

Exercises with sino vs si no

If you already know how and when to use “sino” and “si no”, test your knowledge with these exercises filling in sino vs si no. The correct answers are below:

• No fue culpa tuya, __________ de las circunstancias
• No me interesa el premio, __________ participar
• Avísame __________ llegas tarde al trabajo
• __________ terminas a tiempo, no podrás entregar el informe
• No quiero que me digas lo que quiero oír, __________ la verdad
• __________ encuentras las llaves, mira en la cocina
• No solo olvidaste mi cumpleaños, __________ que ni siquiera me llamaste luego
• Podemos ir al parque __________ empieza a llover
• No era un problema de actitud, __________ de organización
• Vamos a perder el turno __________ nos apuramos

Answers: sino, sino, si no, si no, sino, si no, sino si no, sino, si no

Whenever you're unsure, ask yourself:

• Am I contrasting one thing with another? If so, use “sino”
• Am I stating a negative condition? If the answer is yes, use “si no”

Although “sino” and “si no” sound the same, they have very different meanings and functions. Using one instead of the other can completely change the meaning and what you want to say. Therefore, the key is in the context and structure of the sentence.

With a little practice and the tips, we've shared with you, you'll see that it's not that difficult to tell them apart. However, if you still have doubts and want to improve your Spanish with the best teachers, don't hesitate to come and learn Spanish in Spain with don Quijote. Discover a country full of culture, history, and good vibes while mastering the language surrounded by locals.