embora vs conquanto
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to embora
Listen to conquanto
| embora | conquanto |
|---|---|
em-BO-ra conjunction | con-GUAN-to conjunction |
| although; even though | although; provided that |
How they differ
Conquanto can overlap with embora in the sense of "although," but it is much less common and tends to sound literary or formal. In some contexts it can also mean "provided that," which makes it less straightforward than embora.
When to use each
When to use embora: Use embora for the ordinary, clear concessive meaning in modern Portuguese.
When to use conquanto: Use conquanto mainly in careful writing or when you want a more elevated, literary tone.
Side-by-side examples
- Embora seja tarde, ainda há gente na rua.
(Although it is late, there are still people on the street.) - Conquanto seja tarde, ainda há gente na rua.
(Although it is late, there are still people on the street.)
Register & nuance: Conquanto is markedly more formal and literary than embora, and it is much less frequent in everyday conversation.