Expressing Contrast in Spanish: Aunque and Sin Embargo
Learn to express contrast in Spanish with aunque and sin embargo, and see how they differ from cause and result connectors like porque and así que.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Spanish, contrast is expressed with different words than cause or result. To say 'although' or 'even though', use aunque. To say 'however' or 'nevertheless', use sin embargo. These words let you combine two ideas that pull in opposite directions: Aunque era tarde, seguimos trabajando. This lesson teaches you to build those sentences and to avoid mixing them up with porque (because) and así que (so).
By the end, you can…
- use aunque to mean 'although' or 'even though' in a contrast sentence.
- use sin embargo to mean 'however' when connecting two contrasting sentences.
- tell contrast connectors apart from cause and result connectors like porque and así que.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Aunque era tarde, seguimos trabajando.
Although it was late, we kept working.
AHWN-kay EH-rah TAR-deh, seh-GHEE-mohs trah-bah-HAHN-doh
Aunque introduces a fact that contrasts with the main clause. The verb after aunque is in the indicative when the fact is real.
Aunque llueve, vamos a salir.
Although it is raining, we are going out.
AHWN-kay YWEH-veh, BAH-mohs ah sah-LEER
Use the indicative llueve because the rain is a real, known fact. In much of Latin America, ll is pronounced like English y.
Es caro; sin embargo, lo voy a comprar.
It is expensive; however, I am going to buy it.
es KAH-roh; seen ehm-BAH-roh, loh boy ah kohm-PRAR
Sin embargo links two complete sentences and is usually followed by a comma. It is more formal than pero.
No estudié mucho; sin embargo, aprobé el examen.
I did not study much; however, I passed the exam.
noh es-too-DYEH MOO-choh; seen ehm-BAH-roh, ah-proh-BEH el ek-SAH-men
Sin embargo often appears after a semicolon or a period, making the contrast between two full statements clear.
Aunque no tengo dinero, quiero viajar.
Although I do not have money, I want to travel.
AHWN-kay noh TEHN-goh dee-NEH-roh, KYEH-roh byah-HAR
Aunque can come at the beginning of the sentence. The main clause then follows, often without an extra comma in short sentences.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Aunque + clause with a real fact, main clause: Aunque era tarde, seguimos trabajando. Sin embargo joins two complete sentences: Es caro; sin embargo, lo voy a comprar. Both express contrast, but aunque can start a subordinate clause, while sin embargo is a sentence connector. Do not use porque or así que here, because those express cause and result, not contrast.
When to use it
Use aunque when one idea makes the other surprising: Aunque llueve, vamos a salir. Use sin embargo when you want a more formal link between two sentences: No estudié mucho; sin embargo, aprobé el examen. In everyday speech, pero is more common than sin embargo, but aunque remains common in both speech and writing. Remember that aunque does not mean 'but'; it means 'although' or 'even though'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Vas a terminar el informe hoy?
Are you going to finish the report today?bas ah tehr-mee-NAR el een-FOR-meh OYAunque estoy cansado, voy a terminarlo.
Although I am tired, I am going to finish it.AHWN-kay es-TOY kahn-SAH-doh, boy ah tehr-mee-NAR-lohEs muy tarde; sin embargo, te voy a ayudar.
It is very late; however, I am going to help you.es mwee TAR-deh; seen ehm-BAH-roh, teh boy ah ah-yoo-DARGracias. Aunque no tenemos mucho tiempo, podemos hacerlo.
Thanks. Although we do not have much time, we can do it.GRAH-syahs. AHWN-kay noh teh-NEH-mohs MOO-choh TYEHM-poh, poh-DEH-mohs ah-SEHR-lohA little context goes a long way
Sin embargo is common in formal writing and careful speech across Latin America, while pero is the everyday spoken contrast word. Aunque is neutral and widely used in both speech and writing. In some regions, people also say aunque sea to mean 'at least' or 'even if', but that is a different use from the contrast meaning taught here.
One thing to watch for
Using porque or así que to translate 'although' or 'however'.
Try this instead: Porque means 'because' and así que means 'so'; they show cause and result, not contrast. For contrast, use aunque or sin embargo. Example: Aunque era tarde, seguimos trabajando, not Porque era tarde, seguimos trabajando.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'Although it was late, we kept working.'
Show a sample answer
Aunque era tarde, seguimos trabajando.
Aunque introduces the contrasting fact, and the main clause follows. Other word orders are possible, but this order is clear and natural.
2Which connector fits better: 'It is expensive; however, I am going to buy it'?
Show a sample answer
Es caro; sin embargo, lo voy a comprar.
Sin embargo links two complete sentences and expresses contrast. Pero could also work in informal speech, but sin embargo matches the formal tone of 'however'.
3Correct the error: 'Porque llueve, vamos a salir' if the intended meaning is 'Although it is raining, we are going out.'
Show a sample answer
Aunque llueve, vamos a salir.
Porque means 'because', which changes the meaning to a cause. Aunque correctly marks the contrast between rain and going out.
Use aunque for 'although' inside a sentence, and sin embargo for 'however' between two sentences. Keep them separate from porque and así que, which show cause and result, not contrast.
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