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"although" in seven languages

Meaningalthough

Spanish

aunque

/ˈawnke/

other source · aun 'even' (Latin ADHŪC 'still') + que

Takes the indicative for facts, the subjunctive for 'even if'.

French

bien que

/bjɛ̃ kə/

inherited

Always followed by the subjunctive. Quoique is a synonym.

Italian

sebbene

/sebˈbɛne/

inherited

Se + bene, with the b doubled. Followed by the subjunctive; anche se is the casual option.

Portuguese

embora

/ẽˈbɔɾɐ/

other source · Portuguese em boa hora 'in a good hour'

Takes the subjunctive: embora esteja chovendo.

Romanian

deși

/deˈʃi/

other source · Romanian de + și 'and, also' (Latin SĪC)

Catalan

tot i que

/tot i kə/

other source · Catalan tot 'all' (Latin TŌTUM) + i 'and' + que

English

although

/ɔlˈðoʊ/

native English · Middle English al thogh 'all though'

English → ItalianalthoughsebbeneNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: benefit, benevolent.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

BENE‘well’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

French and Italian concede with 'well': bien que, sebbene ('if well'). Spanish says 'even that', aunque. French and Italian demand the subjunctive after it.

English relatives: benefit, benevolent

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In a sentence

  • esAunque llueve, salimos.
  • frBien qu'il pleuve, on sort.
  • itSebbene piova, usciamo.
  • ptEmbora esteja chovendo, vamos sair.
  • roDeși plouă, ieșim.
  • caTot i que plou, sortim.
  • enAlthough it's raining, we're going out.

More words from the same Latin

More in Little words

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