въпреки че/макар че

Although

Level 3Sounds Like vʺpreki če/makar če

Въпреки че and макар че both mean "although": Въпреки че валеше, излязохме. (Although it was raining, we went out.)

How It Works

1. Two ways to say although. Въпреки че and макар че mean the same. Both are followed by a full clause with a conjugated verb:

  • Въпреки че валеше, излязохме на разходка. (Although it was raining, we went for a walk.)
  • Макар че е късно, ще дойда. (Although it is late, I will come.)

You will also meet макар да with the same meaning: Макар да е уморена, продължава да работи. (Although she is tired, she keeps working.)

2. Order and commas. The clause can come first or second. It is always set off by a comma, and the comma goes before въпреки or макар, never between the two words:

  • Той е спокоен, въпреки че има много работа. (He is calm, although he has a lot of work.)
  • Not *Въпреки, че..., which is a very common spelling mistake.

See commas before subordinate clauses.

3. Clause or noun? Before a noun, use въпреки without че: въпреки дъжда (despite the rain). See despite. Before a short adjective phrase, макар и is used: see albeit with макар и.

Tip: the main clause does not need но. The conjunction already shows the contrast, so say Въпреки че валеше, излязохме.

Examples (6)

  1. Въпреки че валеше, излязохме на разходка.

    Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

  2. Макар че е късно, ще дойда.

    Although it is late, I will come.

  3. Той е много спокоен, въпреки че има много работа.

    He is very calm, although he has a lot of work.

    The clause can also come second, after a comma.

  4. Макар че живее в София от десет години, все още говори с акцент.

    Although she has lived in Sofia for ten years, she still speaks with an accent.

  5. Купих чантата, въпреки че беше скъпа.

    I bought the bag, although it was expensive.

  6. Макар да е уморена, тя продължава да работи.

    Although she is tired, she keeps working.

    Макар да is another way to say although.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a comma between въпреки and че.

    Въпреки, че валеше, излязохме.
    Въпреки че валеше, излязохме.

    Въпреки че is one conjunction, so its two words are never separated by a comma. The comma goes at the end of the clause.

  • Using въпреки alone before a clause.

    Въпреки валеше, излязохме.
    Въпреки че валеше, излязохме.

    Before a verb you need въпреки че. Въпреки alone is used only before a noun, as in въпреки дъжда.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

въпреки че/макар чеLevel 3Although

Learn This First

Although follows contrast with но.

Words in This Pattern

въпреки