иако

Although

Level 3Sounds Like iako

Иако means although. It introduces a fact that did not stop the main event: Иако беше уморен, дојде. (Although he was tired, he came.)

How It Works

Иако joins two facts that seem to clash: the first could have prevented the second, but it did not.

Word order: the иако clause can come first or second, separated by a comma:

  • Иако врнеше, излеговме на прошетка. (Although it was raining, we went for a walk.)
  • Го купив фустанот, иако беше скап. (I bought the dress, although it was expensive.)

Any tense: the verb after иако is in the normal tense for its meaning: Иако живее во Германија, зборува одлично македонски.

Сепак: the main clause often adds сепак (still, anyway) to underline the surprise: Иако не ми се оди, сепак ќе дојдам. (see сепак; меѓутоа; напротив).

With a noun: иако must be followed by a clause with a verb. Before a plain noun, use и покрај: И покрај дождот, излеговме. (see и покрај + именка). Longer synonyms include макар што and и покрај тоа што (see макар што; и покрај тоа што).

Do not confuse иако with ако: ако means if, so dropping the и changes the meaning completely.

Examples (6)

  1. Иако беше уморен, дојде.

    Although he was tired, he came.

    Word by Word: Although was tired, came.

  2. Иако врнеше, излеговме на прошетка.

    Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

    Word by Word: Although it-was-raining, we-went-out on walk.

  3. Го купив фустанот, иако беше скап.

    I bought the dress, although it was expensive.

    Word by Word: It I-bought dress-the, although was expensive.

  4. Иако живее во Германија, зборува одлично македонски.

    Although she lives in Germany, she speaks Macedonian excellently.

    Word by Word: Although lives in Germany, speaks excellently Macedonian.

  5. Иако не ми се оди, сепак ќе дојдам.

    Although I do not feel like going, I will come anyway.

    Word by Word: Although not to-me itself goes, still will I-come.

    Не ми се оди means I do not feel like going; сепак underlines the contrast.

  6. Иако е мал, станот е многу удобен.

    Although it is small, the flat is very comfortable.

    Word by Word: Although is small, flat-the is very comfortable.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting a plain noun after иако.

    Иако дождот, излеговме.
    Иако врнеше, излеговме.

    Иако needs a clause with a verb. With a noun, say И покрај дождот, излеговме.

  • Meaning although but writing ако (if).

    Ако беше уморен, дојде.
    Иако беше уморен, дојде.

    Ако means if, so the first sentence does not say although. The и at the start of иако is essential.

How It Connects

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иакоLevel 3Although

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Although follows но.

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Words in This Pattern

сепак