ehkki / olgugi et
Formal Although
Kuigi, ehkki and olgugi et all mean although. Kuigi is the everyday word; ehkki and olgugi et sound more formal.
How It Works
All three words mean although:
- kuigi: neutral, the everyday choice
- ehkki: more formal and bookish
- olgugi et: formal and a little more emphatic, like even though
Ehkki oli hilja, jätkasime tööd. Ta tuli tööle, olgugi et oli haige.
The although-clause is a subordinate clause, so it is set off with a comma. Olgugi et is one conjunction, so there is no comma between olgugi and et. The main clause often adds siiski or ikkagi (still): Ehkki oli külm, läksime siiski ujuma.
Olgugi alone can go with a short phrase that has no verb: Ta jõudis kohale, olgugi hilja. (He made it, even if late.)
Do not confuse ehkki with ehk, which means that is or perhaps.
Examples (6)
- Ehkki oli hilja, jätkasime tööd.
Although it was late, we kept working.
- Ta tuli, olgugi et oli haige.
She came, even though she was ill.
- Ehkki ilm oli külm, läksime siiski ujuma.
Although the weather was cold, we still went swimming.
- Ma lõpetasin raamatu, olgugi et see oli igav.
I finished the book, even though it was boring.
- Ta jõudis kohale, olgugi hilja.
He made it, even if late.
Olgugi alone can go with a short phrase that has no verb.
- Kontsert oli hea, ehkki natuke pikk.
The concert was good, although a little long.
Common Mistakes
Putting a comma inside olgugi et.
Ta tuli, olgugi, et oli haige.Ta tuli, olgugi et oli haige.Olgugi et is one conjunction, so its two parts are not separated by a comma.
Leaving out the comma before ehkki.
Me jätkasime tööd ehkki oli hilja.Me jätkasime tööd, ehkki oli hilja.Ehkki starts a subordinate clause, and Estonian puts a comma before every subordinate clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These are formal versions of kuigi.
Related Patterns
- küll ... agaAdmittedly ... but
Another way to admit one point and add another.
Level 4 - ehkOr and That Is (Ehk)
Looks similar but means that is or perhaps.
Level 4 - Commas Before Clauses
An although-clause is set off with a comma.
Level 3 - olgu + -nudConceding a Point (Olgu ... -nud)
Another concessive pattern built on olgu.
Level 6 - Written vs Spoken Estonian
Ehkki and olgugi et belong mostly to written language.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice ehkki / olgugi et in Bubblegum
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