sin embargo
however
Se usa para mostrar una idea que cambia o contrasta con lo que se dijo antes. Significa algo parecido a «pero» o «aun así».
Definition & meaning
Sin embargo is a Spanish concessive connector meaning “however,” “nevertheless,” or “nonetheless.” It introduces a contrast with something stated previously.
It often signals that the second statement is surprising or qualifies the first:
- El viaje fue largo; sin embargo, valió la pena. — “The journey was long; however, it was worth it.”
- No tenía mucho tiempo. Sin embargo, terminó el trabajo. — “He did not have much time. Nevertheless, he finished the work.”
It can appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. When it appears parenthetically in the middle of a sentence, it is usually set off by commas.
Grammar & Word origin
Sin embargo is a fixed adverbial or discourse-conjunctive phrase. It does not change form according to gender, number, or person.
Its parts are:
- sin — “without”
- embargo — historically related to the noun embargo, “seizure,” “restraint,” or “restriction,” from the verb embargar, “to hinder” or “to seize”
Literally, the phrase can be understood historically as “without hindrance,” but in modern Spanish it functions idiomatically as a contrast marker rather than being interpreted literally.
It is similar in meaning to pero, “but,” although sin embargo is generally more formal and is often used to connect complete sentences or larger ideas.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- no obstante — “nevertheless” or “notwithstanding”; very close in meaning and similarly formal.
- con todo — “all the same” or “nevertheless”; slightly more literary or formal.
- aun así — “even so” or “even then”; often emphasizes that the result occurred despite the preceding fact.
- pese a ello — “despite that”; more explicitly expresses concession.
- empero — “however”; formal and somewhat literary, and less common in everyday speech.
- pero — “but”; more common and direct, but usually less formal than sin embargo .
There is no exact antonym. Depending on context, connectors expressing consequence or agreement can provide an opposite logical relation:
These do not express contrast; they present a result or consequence instead.
Common phrases & collocations
- sin embargo, — commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
- y, sin embargo, — “and yet” or “and nevertheless.”
- pero, sin embargo, — possible for emphasis, though often considered redundant because both connectors express contrast.
- sin embargo de — an older or less common construction meaning “despite”; modern Spanish generally prefers a pesar de or pese a .
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Examples
Quiero salir, sin embargo, está lloviendo.conjunction
I want to go out, however, it is raining.
Pensamos que el camino sería fácil; sin embargo, resultó más largo de lo esperado.conjunction
We thought the road would be easy; however, it turned out longer than expected.
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