walaupun

Concession with Walaupun

Level 2

Walaupun introduces a circumstance despite which the main situation holds or is expected to hold. It can mean although or even if, depending on context.

How It Works

The word walaupun is formed from walau (even if) and the emphatic particle pun. It is used to create complex sentences that show contrast.

1. Sentence Position
You can place the walaupun clause at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence:

  • Beginning: Walaupun hari hujan, saya tetap pergi. (Although it is raining, I am still going.) Note: Use a comma after the first clause.
  • Middle: Saya tetap pergi walaupun hari hujan. (I am still going even though it is raining.)

2. Register
It is considered neutral to formal. While it is the standard form in writing, it is also very common in daily conversation. The shorter walau also occurs in conversation, literature and other writing.

3. Ellipsis (Shortening)
If the subject of both clauses is the same, you can sometimes omit the shared subject in the walaupun clause for brevity, especially when followed by an adjective:
Walaupun (dia) lelah, dia terus bekerja. (Although tired, he continued working.)

Editing a Double Contrast: TBBI recommends avoiding the redundant pair walaupun ... tetapi in its standard model. Walaupun dia sakit, dia masuk sekolah is the concise version. The paired form is nevertheless encountered in usage; treat this as formal editing guidance rather than a rule that every two-conjunction sentence is invalid.

Examples (4)

  1. Walaupun hari hujan, dia tetap pergi ke kantor.

    Although it was raining, he/she still went to the office.

    Word by Word: Although day rain, he/she still go to office.

    The 'walaupun' clause comes first, so a comma is used to separate it from the main clause.

  2. Saya akan membeli mobil itu walaupun harganya mahal.

    I will buy that car even though the price is expensive.

    Word by Word: I will buy car that although price-its expensive.

    Here, 'walaupun' is in the middle of the sentence, connecting the main action to the obstacle.

  3. Walaupun lelah, mereka terus bekerja sampai malam.

    Although tired, they continued working until night.

    Word by Word: Although tired, they continue work until night.

    This shows an elliptical construction where the subject 'mereka' is understood in the first clause.

  4. Dia tetap tersenyum walaupun sedang sedih.

    She keeps smiling even though she is sad.

    Word by Word: She stay smile although [progressive] sad.

    The word 'sedang' indicates a continuous state of being sad despite the outward smile.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the comma when starting with 'walaupun'.

    Walaupun dia kaya dia tidak sombong.
    Walaupun dia kaya, dia tidak sombong.

    When the subordinate clause (the one starting with walaupun) comes first, a comma is required before the main clause starts.

How It Connects

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

walaupunLevel 2Concession with Walaupun

Learn This First

To use 'walaupun' (even though/although), learners need to be able to construct complete clauses and understand how to link them to show logical relationships. It is helpful to first understand basic contrast (but) and cause-and-effect (because) before moving to concessive clauses.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

walaupun