What does although mean?
'Although' is a subordinating conjunction used to link a concession or contrast to a main statement. When a sentence opens with 'although', the reader expects the main clause to qualify or reverse what follows: 'Although the team lost, they played brilliantly.' It expresses two closely related ideas — 'in spite of the fact that', where the concessive clause states a real circumstance, and 'even if', where it states a hypothetical one. The word is fully standard in both British and American English and suits formal and informal contexts alike, though it cannot be tacked onto the end of a sentence the way its shorter cousin 'though' can. Stylists advise against pairing an 'although' clause with 'but' in the main clause, since the contrast is already built into the conjunction. Derived historically from the phrase 'all though', it remains one of the most versatile tools in English for expressing qualified agreement.
conjunctionA subordinating conjunction used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or concedes something stated in the main clause, meaning 'in spite of the fact that' or 'even if'.
- Introducing a subordinate clause stating a fact that makes the main clause surprising or contrasting: 'in spite of the fact that'.
- Introducing a conditional or hypothetical concession: 'even if', 'granting that'.
"Although it rained all morning, the match went ahead as planned."
"Although she had studied for weeks, the exam proved harder than expected."
"Although you may disagree, I think the plan is sound."
'Although' began life as two separate words — 'all though' — which gradually fused into one during the Middle English period.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of although
'Although' originated in Middle English as the two-word phrase 'all though', where 'all' intensified the concessive force of 'though'. Over time the two elements fused into a single word, first attested in this combined form in the late medieval period. Its root, 'though', descends from Old Norse 'þó' ('though', 'nevertheless'), borrowed into English during the Viking Age, making 'although' part of the substantial body of English vocabulary of Scandinavian origin. Its closest relative in modern English is 'though' itself, along with the clipped form 'tho'.
How although is actually used
Standard in both formal and informal registers across British and American English. Unlike 'though', 'although' cannot appear at the end of a sentence as a standalone adverbial tag. In careful formal writing, a clause beginning with 'although' should not be followed by 'but' in the main clause.
Easily confused with although
'Though' is a shorter, more informal variant usable at the end of a sentence as an adverb ('It was fun, though'), whereas 'although' only introduces a full concessive clause.
'However' is a conjunctive adverb that starts a new sentence or independent clause, while 'although' joins a subordinate clause directly to the main clause.