mais il

but he

→ mais
phrase Very common #452
but he A very common combination of mais + il. The exact English translation depends on what il refers to in context: a male person, or an impersonal subject like it.
FR: Paul était malade, mais il est venu.
EN: Paul was sick, but he came.

Mais il n'est pas encore assez puissant pour ignorer la peur.

But he isn't powerful enough yet to ignore fear.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : Les Deux Tours (2002)

Ce manteau coûte cher, mais il vaut son prix.

This coat is expensive, but it's worth the price.

Mais il va passer à l'action.

But he’s going to take action.

— Avengers (2012)

Mais il roule vite.

But it's fast.

— F1® Le Film (2025)

Il a peu d'argent, mais il se débrouille.

He doesn’t have much money, but he manages.

Mais il a été détruit.

But it was destroyed.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : La Communauté de l'anneau (2001)

Mais il nous a vus.

But he saw us.

— Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Mais il permet d'entrer dans l'église.

But it allows you to enter the church.

Elle essaya de le réconforter mais il continua à pleurer.

She tried to comfort him but he continued to cry.

Mais il a frappé un agent!

But he hit an officer!

— De tout cœur (1998)

Mais il n'a rien fait.

But he did nothing.

Tu avais déjà une jolie fille mais il t'en a fallu une autre.

You already had a pretty girl, but you had to have another one.

— Picnic (1955)

Tom allait mentir, mais il a fini par tout déballer.

Tom was going to lie, but he finally spilled the beans.

Je l'ai appelé mais il n'était pas là.

I called him, but he wasn’t there.

Mais il n'est qu'un accessoire de la réussite.

But it’s merely an accessory to success.

— Il est de retour (2015)

Mais il vous aime.

But he loves you.

— La Nuit américaine (1973)

Mais il assure.

But he’s really good.

— Harry Potter et la Coupe de feu (2005)

Mais il a continué.

But he continued.

— Apocalypse Now (1979)

Comme Daniel Day-Lewis, mais il craint.

Like Daniel Day-Lewis, but he's scary.

— The Big Sick (2017)

Mon père l'a tué, mais il ne lui en a pas voulu.

My father killed him, but he didn’t hold it against him.

— Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025)

Il y a quelqu'un mais il ne dit rien.

There’s someone there, but they’re not saying anything.

— Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

Mais il ne l'est pas?

But isn't he?

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Ce lien me conduisait à votre site, mais il ne marche plus.

This link used to take me to your website, but it no longer works.

Je ne voulais pas, mais il a insisté.

I didn't want to, but he insisted.

Elle lui demanda pourquoi il pleurait, mais il ne répondit pas.

She asked him why he was crying, but he didn’t answer.

Je lui ai demandé, mais il n'a pas répondu.

I asked him, but he didn't answer.

Il est là mais il n'est pas là.

He is there but he is not there.

Ce jouet est amusant, mais il ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de cinq ans.

This toy is fun, but it is not suitable for children under five years old.

Mais il ignore que mon fils et moi sommes dans ce train.

But he doesn't know that my son and I are on that train.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Elle lui posa quelques questions, mais il refusa de répondre.

She asked him a few questions, but he refused to answer.

Mais il détruit la soupe!

But he's destroying the soup!

— Ratatouille (2007)

Mais il n'avait jamais quitté le navire.

But he had never left the ship.

— La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan (1998)

Ils ont essayé de le berner, mais il n'est pas tombé dans le panneau.

They tried to trick him, but he didn’t fall for it.

Elle attendait Favell, mais il n'était pas là.

She was waiting for Favell, but he wasn't there.

— Rebecca (1940)

Mais il tombe avec.

But he falls with it.

— Les Lundis au soleil (2002)

Mais il pèle, ce soir.

But it’s freezing tonight.

— Une Affaire de famille (2018)

Mais il réagit comme si son poste était en jeu.

But he reacts as if his job were on the line.

— Aucun autre choix (2025)

Elle lui demanda de venir chez elle, mais il refusa.

She asked him to come to her house, but he refused.

Elle lui a demandé pourquoi il pleurait, mais il n'a pas répondu.

She asked him why he was crying, but he didn't answer.

Mais il avait raison.

But he was right.

Mais il n'a pas encore plu.

But it hasn't rained yet.

— Lagaan (2001)

C'était un homme très cultivé, mais il n'en avait pas du tout conscience.

He was a very cultured man, but he wasn’t at all aware of it.

Mais il finissait toujours par revenir.

But he always ended up coming back.

— Rang de Basanti (2006)

Je cours après le bus mais il est déjà parti.

I'm running after the bus but it's already left.

Mais il peut changer.

But it can change.

— Picnic (1955)

Mais il a insisté pour qu'elle arrête.

But he insisted that she stop.

— Tár (2022)

Ben, il lui est arrivé de venir mais il a jamais été très net.

Well, he did come sometimes, but he was never very reliable.

— The Machinist (2004)

Mais il pourrait être dans le coin.

But he could be around.

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Mais il ne boit pas.

But he doesn't drink.

— Day Watch (2006)

Mais il n'est jamais sorti.

But he never went out.

— L'Orphelinat (2007)

Mais il n'est qu'un petit médecin de quartier.

But he’s just a small neighborhood doctor.

— Voyage à Tokyo (1953)

J'ai ouvert le bidon, mais il était vide.

I opened the can, but it was empty.

Mais il se souvient de moi?

But does he remember me?

— Assassination (2015)

Je suis les indications du GPS, mais il se trompe parfois.

I follow the GPS directions, but it sometimes makes mistakes.

Mais il n’a jamais cessé de dire ce qu’il pensait.

But he never stopped saying what he thought.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Le travail semblait assez simple, mais il m'a pris une semaine.

The work seemed fairly simple, but it took me a week.

Mais il a explosé et il est tout vert.

But it exploded and it's all green.

— Cold Storage (2026)

C'est le plus fort, le plus important, mais il n'écoute pas toujours.

He's the strongest and the most important, but he doesn't always listen.

— Bullet Train (2022)

Mais il subsiste une lueur d'espoir, et c'est le football.

But there is still a glimmer of hope, and that is football.

— Il est de retour (2015)

Elle lui recommanda de ne pas conduire trop vite mais il refusa de l'écouter.

She advised him not to drive too fast, but he refused to listen to her.

Mais il n'était pas là.

But he wasn't there.

Je demande à Dieu mais il ne me dit rien.

I ask God, but He doesn’t tell me anything.

— PK (2014)

Mais il n'en a pas.

But he doesn't have any.

— Romance de bureau (1977)

Mais il ne l'utilisera que sur un homme.

But he will only use it on a man.

Mais il me dit que vous en avez des tonnes.

But he told me you have tons of them.

— Black Panther (2018)

Il a des résultats, mais il respecte la loi.

He has results, but he respects the law.

Elle lui demanda pourquoi il était en train de pleurer, mais il ne répondit pas.

She asked him why he was crying, but he didn’t answer.

Mais il méritait pas de mourir.

But he didn't deserve to die.

— Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

C'était un mercenaire mais il préférait se dire soldat de fortune.

He was a mercenary, but he preferred to call himself a soldier of fortune.

Je devais voir un ami, mais il n'est pas là.

I was supposed to meet a friend, but he isn't here.

— Chute libre (1993)

Il n'a presque pas d'argent mais il se débrouille.

He has almost no money, but he manages.

Je ris, mais il me fait de la peine.

I laugh, but I feel sorry for him.

— Toni Erdmann (2016)

Il est étudiant en droit, mais il ne sait rien.

He is a law student, but he knows nothing.

— Voyage à Tokyo (1953)

Mais il regarde les oiseaux avec tant de bonté tous les matins.

But he looks at the birds with such kindness every morning.

— Wicked (2024)

Mais il ne l'a jamais fait.

But he never did.

Mais il n'est pas rentré de la nuit.

But he didn't come home all night.

— A Taxi Driver (2017)

Mais il ne pouvait y avoir qu'un seul résultat.

But there could only be one outcome.

— Senna (2010)

Mais il n'a pas eu de chance.

But he wasn't lucky.

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

Mais il ignorait comment l'aborder, que pouvait-il lui dire?

But he didn’t know how to approach her—what could he say to her?

— Mirage (2018)

J'ai attendu Tom trois heures, mais il n'est jamais venu.

I waited for Tom for three hours, but he never came.

Il n'a pour ainsi dire pas d'argent mais il se débrouille.

He has practically no money, but he manages.

Jan devait partir à la guerre, mais il préférait rester chez elle.

Jan was supposed to go to war, but preferred to stay home.

— Le Tambour (1979)

Mais il n'arrêtait pas de parler.

But he wouldn’t stop talking.

— Le prisonnier du Caucase (1996)

Il est bien habillé, mais il n'a rien d'un gentleman.

He is well dressed, but there's nothing gentlemanly about him.

Il m'a forcé à venir par ici, mais il n'ira pas plus loin que moi.

He forced me to come this way, but he won't go any farther than I will.

— La Guerre des étoiles (1977)

Mais il pourrait.

But he could.

— Ratatouille (2007)

Mais il n'est jamais venu.

But he never came.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Ce manteau a peut-être coûté beaucoup d'argent, mais il en vaut la peine.

This coat may have cost a lot of money, but it's worth it.

J'en ai entendu parler par mon père, mais il me disait qu'elle était morte.

I heard about her from my father, but he told me she was dead.

— Jean de Florette (1986)

Tom savait se trouvait Mary, mais il ne le révéla pas à la police.

Tom knew where Mary was, but he didn't reveal it to the police.

Il écoute, mais il comprend les choses différemment.

He listens, but he understands things differently.

Il a une copine mais il flirte quand même avec moi.

He has a girlfriend but he still flirts with me.

J'ai examiné son dossier, mais il n'a aucun lien avec Oh.

I reviewed his file, but he has no connection to Oh.

— The Man From Nowhere (2010)

Mon gars a tout préparé, mais il ne le fait pas.

My son has everything prepared, but he's not doing it.

— Crime 101 (2026)

C'est étrange à dire, mais il ne connaissait pas la nouvelle.

It’s strange to say, but he didn’t know the news.

Je lui parle, mais il écoute rien.

I’m talking to him, but he’s not listening to anything.

— F1® Le Film (2025)

Mais il l'avait deviné.

But he had guessed it.

— Qui suis-je (2014)

Mais il subsiste une lueur d'espoir.

But there is still a glimmer of hope.

— Il est de retour (2015)

Mais il en avait quand tu l'as épousé?

But he had some when you married him?

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Tom voulait demander à Marie, mais il avait peur qu'elle dise non.

Tom wanted to ask Marie, but he was afraid she would say no.

Il est toujours ici mais il ne fonctionne plus.

It's still here but it's no longer working.

— L'Orphelinat (2007)

Mais il n'est jamais arrivé.

But it never happened.

— Oh Boy (2012)

J'en avais un, mais il a été volé.

I had one, but it was stolen.

D'habitude il boit du jus d'orange mais il a arrêté ça aussi.

Usually he drinks orange juice, but he stopped that too.

— मुन्ना भाई एम बी बी एस (2003)

Mais il ne l'était pas.

But he wasn't.

Elle lui demanda de l'appeler plus tard, mais il oublia.

She asked him to call her later, but he forgot.

Mais il n'est plus là.

But he's not there anymore.

Mais il fallait du cran pour soulever l'affaire.

But it took guts to raise the issue.

Elle lui écrivit une longue lettre mais il ne la lut pas.

She wrote him a long letter, but he didn't read it.

Bill ne savait pas ce que ça voulait dire, mais il en avait l'idée.

Bill didn't know what it meant, but he had an idea.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Mais il ne sait rien.

But he knows nothing.

— Vivre (1952)

C’est vrai que Mochida a fait de son mieux, mais il n’a pas été assez vigilant.

It’s true that Mochida did his best, but he wasn’t vigilant enough.

Mais il a changé.

But he changed.

J'ai essayé de le lui expliquer, mais il ne comprend pas.

I tried to explain it to him, but he doesn't understand.

Écoutez, j'ignore qui vous cherchez mais il n'est pas là.

Listen, I don't know who you're looking for, but he's not here.

— Mirage (2018)

Mais il devenait fou et nous tuait tout les deux.

But he went crazy and killed us both.

— Huit et demi (1963)

Il ne fait qu'aboyer mais il ne mord pas.

He only barks; he doesn’t bite.

Mais il n'a pas été question de certificat homologué.

But there was no mention of an approved certificate.

— La Plateforme (2019)

C'est vrai qu'il est intelligent, mais il n'est pas très serviable.

It's true that he's intelligent, but he's not very helpful.

Mais il serait resté si je lui avais demandé.

But he would have stayed if I had asked him.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Papa m'en veut mais il finira par se calmer.

Dad is mad at me, but he’ll eventually calm down.

— La Cité de Dieu (2002)

Mais il pleure.

But he is crying.

— Benni (2019)

Mais il n'était jamais qu'entre la poupe et la proue.

But he was never anywhere but between the stern and the bow.

— La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan (1998)

Mais il repassera, n'est-ce pas?

But he’ll come back, won’t he?

— La vie est belle (1997)

Il aime la discipline mais il laisse de la place pour respirer.

He likes discipline but he leaves room for breathing room.

— L'Arche russe (2002)

Nous sommes allés au Musée de l'Homme, mais il est fermé le mardi.

We went to the Musée de l'Homme, but it's closed on Tuesdays.

Mais il veut vous voir.

But he wants to see you.

— Picnic (1955)

Mais il à peine hurlé.

But he barely screamed.

— Rise Roar Revolt (RRR) (2022)

Il y a un Nagan, mais il n'est pas très fiable.

There’s a Nagan, but it isn’t very reliable.

— Le Frère 2 (2000)

Tom habite près de la plage, mais il ne sait pas nager.

Tom lives near the beach, but he doesn't know how to swim.

Mais il ignorait que, grâce à lui, nous n'avions pas commis de péché.

But he did not know that, thanks to him, we had not sinned.

— Gangs of Wasseypur : 1ère partie (2012)

Mais il n'aura revu que moi.

But he will only have seen me again.

— Le Bon, la Brute et le Truand (1966)

Elle cuisine pour lui chaque jour, mais il ne l'apprécie pas.

She cooks for him every day, but he doesn’t appreciate it.

Mais il est trop grand pour que je le garde au bordel!

But it's too big for me to keep in the brothel!

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

Je ne sais ni comment ni par qui, mais il avait été poignardé.

I don't know how or by whom, but he had been stabbed.

— Wake Up Dead Man : Une histoire à couteaux tirés (2025)