In Spanish, the words salvo and excepto are both used to indicate exceptions. Using salvo and excepto in Spanish effectively can help you sound more natural while speaking this language. While their meanings overlap significantly, they have subtle differences in usage, which are essential to understand for achieving natural-sounding Spanish. This article will clarify how to use both terms correctly and provide detailed examples to illustrate their uses, focusing on using salvo and excepto in Spanish in the right contexts.

Using Salvo and Excepto in Spanish

Both salvo and excepto can be translated as except or except for in English. They are commonly used to exclude something or someone from a general statement. Despite their similarity, salvo tends to carry a slightly more formal tone compared to excepto, which is more widely used in everyday speech. Here are the main differences to keep in mind:

  • Interchangeability: In many sentences, salvo and excepto can be used interchangeably without changing the meaning. However, the choice often depends on the level of formality or personal preference.
  • Set Phrases: Some phrases are more naturally expressed using one over the other, as we’ll see in the examples below.

To gain a better understanding, let’s look at some detailed example sentences that demonstrate how to use both terms appropriately when using salvo and excepto in Spanish.

Salvo (more formal exception)

Salvo serves to make an exception to the rule of closure. The usage of salvo gives a slightly more formal tone to the statement, making it suitable for official or public announcements. It has a nuance that makes it sound more akin to save for in English.

No invitaremos a nadie a ver al bebé recién nacido al hospital, salvo a los familiares más cercanos.

We won’t invite anybody to see the newborn at the hospital, except for our closest relatives.

El museo está cerrado todos los días, salvo los martes cuando se permite la entrada gratuita a los residentes de la ciudad.

The museum is closed every day, except on Tuesdays when free admission is allowed for city residents.

Me gusta mucho la música en general, salvo el jazz. Simplemente no lo entiendo y nunca me ha llegado a gustar realmente.

I like music in general, except for jazz. I just don’t get it and it has never really appealed to me.

Las reglas del concurso son estrictas y se aplicarán a todos los participantes, salvo a aquellos que hayan presentado un justificante médico.

The contest rules are strict and will apply to all participants, except for those who have submitted a medical certificate.

Excepto (used in everyday situations)

In the following examples, excepto is used to exclude a particular group of people from the broader group that is not interested in attending the party. The term sounds natural and is commonly used in both formal and informal settings.

No practico ningún deporte de equipo, excepto el baloncesto, que siempre me ha parecido emocionante.

I don’t practice any team sports, except for basketball, which has always seemed exciting to me.

No me gustan las frutas, excepto las cerezas. Son lo único que puedo disfrutar por su sabor dulce y jugoso.

I don’t like fruit, except for cherries. They are the only ones I can enjoy because of their sweet and juicy flavor.

En la reunión, todos estaban de acuerdo con la propuesta, excepto Pedro, que tenía algunas dudas sobre el proyecto.

In the meeting, everyone agreed with the proposal, except for Pedro, who had some doubts about the project.

No todos quieren ir a la fiesta de esta noche, excepto los amigos de Juan que siempre se apuntan a cualquier plan divertido.

Not everyone wants to go to the party tonight, except for Juan’s friends who always join any fun plan.

Excepto (with negative sentences)

In negative sentences, excepto works well to highlight an exception to something negative. The sentence structure allows excepto to emphasize the only thing that is an exception.

No tuvimos ningún problema durante el viaje, excepto un pequeño retraso en el vuelo de regreso debido al mal tiempo.

We had no problems during the trip, except for a small delay on the return flight due to bad weather.

Nadie parecía interesado en ayudar, excepto mi vecino, que inmediatamente se ofreció a brindarme su apoyo.

Nobody seemed interested in helping, except for my neighbor, who immediately offered to give me his support.

No había nada interesante en la exposición, excepto una escultura que captó mi atención por su diseño único.

There was nothing interesting at the exhibition, except for a sculpture that caught my attention for its unique design.

No he encontrado ninguna tienda abierta, excepto aquella panadería que se encuentra al final de la calle principal.

I haven’t found any store open, except for that bakery located at the end of the main street.

Exercises

Both salvo and excepto effectively express exceptions. Salvo is more formal and often used in official contexts, whereas excepto is more neutral and can be used in both everyday and formal situations without sounding out of place.

Using salvo and excepto in Spanish correctly can affect the tone of your statement. When in doubt, excepto is a safe choice for most contexts, while salvo might add a touch of sophistication or formality. Now let’s do some exercises to practice using salvo and excepto in Spanish. Remember that, in our blog, you can also review more linkers or connectors.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Categorized in:

Linkers and Connectors