sin embargo
Lemma Details
Translation: however; nevertheless; nonetheless; yet; even so
Part of Speech: conjunction
Etymology: This phrase comes from the Spanish preposition 'sin' (without) and the noun 'embargo' (obstacle, impediment, seizure). Originally a legal term meaning 'without impediment,' it evolved to express contrast or opposition in a statement. The word 'embargo' itself comes from the verb 'embargar' (to seize, to impede), which derives from Latin 'imbarricare' (to put up a barrier).
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El restaurante es caro; sin embargo, la comida es excelente.
The restaurant is expensive; however, the food is excellent.
Trabajó mucho. Sin embargo, no logró terminar el proyecto a tiempo.
He worked a lot. Nevertheless, he didn't manage to finish the project on time.
Sabía que era peligroso; sin embargo, decidió hacerlo.
He knew it was dangerous; nonetheless, he decided to do it.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'sin' as 'without' and 'embargo' as 'barrier' – so it's like saying 'without barrier/obstacle' to a contrasting idea, meaning you're acknowledging it 'nevertheless'.
- Connect it to the English word 'embargo' (trade restriction) – just as an embargo doesn't completely stop relations between countries, 'sin embargo' introduces an idea that continues despite obstacles.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is a very common transitional phrase in Spanish writing and formal speech. It's slightly more formal than 'pero' (but) and is often used in academic, journalistic, and literary contexts to introduce a contrasting idea.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both 'sin embargo' and 'pero' can be translated as 'but' or 'however', 'sin embargo' is more formal and emphatic, often used to introduce a stronger contrast. 'Pero' is more common in everyday speech.
This word:
Estaba lloviendo; sin embargo, decidimos salir.
It was raining; nevertheless, we decided to go out.
Notes: 'Sin embargo' often appears after a semicolon or period, while 'pero' typically follows a comma.
Mnemonic: 'Sin embargo' is longer and more formal, like saying 'nevertheless' instead of just 'but'.
Explanation: 'Sin embargo' introduces a contrasting statement that follows despite the previous one, while 'aunque' means 'although/even though' and typically introduces a concession before stating the main point.
Confused word:
Aunque no tenía experiencia, consiguió el trabajo.
Although he had no experience, he got the job.
Notes: The order of ideas is often reversed when translating between these two conjunctions.
Mnemonic: 'Sin embargo' comes after stating a fact, while 'aunque' usually comes before.