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"despite, in spite of" in seven languages

Meaningdespite, in spite of

Spanish

a pesar de

/a peˈsaɾ de/

other source · Spanish pesar 'sorrow, regret' (Latin PĒNSĀRE 'to weigh')

French

malgré

/malgʁe/

other source · mal + gré 'against one's liking' (gré from Latin GRĀTUM 'pleasing')

En dépit de, the twin of English despite, is more formal.

Italian

nonostante

/nonosˈtante/

other source · non + ostante 'not standing in the way' (Latin OBSTĀRE)

Portuguese

apesar de

/apeˈzah dʒi/

other source · pesar 'sorrow, regret' (Latin PĒNSĀRE 'to weigh')

Romanian

în ciuda

/ɨn ˈtʃuda/

other source · ciudă 'spite', of uncertain origin

Catalan

malgrat

/məlˈɡɾat/

other source · mal + grat 'against one's liking' (grat from Latin GRĀTUM 'pleasing')

English

despite

/dɪˈspaɪt/

other source · Old French despit 'contempt', from Latin DĒSPECTUS

English → Italiandespite, in spite ofnonostanteNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: spite (a clipping of despite).What English and Italian share

The story

Four different pictures: English 'contempt', Spanish 'to the sorrow of', French 'against one's liking', Italian 'not standing in the way'.

English relatives: spite (a clipping of despite)

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In a sentence

  • esSalimos a pesar de la lluvia.
  • frNous sommes sortis malgré la pluie.
  • itSiamo usciti nonostante la pioggia.
  • ptSaímos apesar da chuva.
  • roAm ieșit în ciuda ploii.
  • caVam sortir malgrat la pluja.
  • enWe went out despite the rain.

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