Anche se vs. Nonostante: Do they mean the same thing?
Yes… but not quite! In Italian, anche se and nonostante are conjunctions used to express concession—that is, something that goes against what we might expect.
They can all be translated as “even if,” “even though,” “although,” or “despite.” However, they follow different grammatical patterns and are not always interchangeable.
- Anche se is more common in spoken Italian and is usually followed by the indicative mood.
- Nonostante and sebbene are more typical in written or formal Italian and are followed by subjunctive forms.
Examples in chart:
That said, anche se can also be followed by the subjunctive in some cases—especially when the sentence expresses a hypothetical or emotionally charged situation. (These are more advanced cases.)
When to Use “Anche se” in Italian
- Usually with the Indicative
- Sometimes with the Subjunctive
Anche se is a common connector meaning “even though,” “although,” or “even if.” It introduces a contrast—something unexpected relative to the main clause.
1) With the Indicative (most common)
In everyday Italian, anche se is most often followed by a verb in the indicative. This is used when the we consider the information to be real, factual, or likely.
Examples:
- Anche se piove, andiamo al parco.
(Even though it’s raining, we’re going to the park.) - Anche se ho sonno, continuo a studiare.
(Even though I’m sleepy, I keep studying.) - Esco anche se sono stanco.
(I’m going out even though I’m tired.)
2) With the Subjunctive (less common, but possible)
Sometimes anche se is followed by the subjunctive, especially when. In the case, the situation is hypothetical, unlikely, or imaginary
Example:
- Anche se tu fossi l’ultima persona sulla Terra, non ti sceglierei.
(Even if you were the last person on Earth, I wouldn’t choose you.)
In these cases, anche se functions more like “even if” rather than “even though.”
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When to Use “Nonostante” in Italian
Nonostante means the same as anche se, but they are typically used in written and formal Italian. Som avoid them in casual conversation.
Examples:
- Nonostante sia tardi, continuiamo a lavorare.
(Even though it’s late, we keep working.) - Nonostante non mi conosca, mi ha salutato.
(Although he doesn’t know me, he greeted me.)
To recap:
| Anche se | Even though Even if Although | Indicative (usually) Subjunctive (hypothetical/emphatic) | Common in spoken and informal Italian | Anche se piove, esco. (Even though it’s raining, I’m going out.) |
| Nonostante | Despite Even though | Subjunctive (with verbs) + noun phrase (no verb) | Written or formal | Nonostante la pioggia, siamo usciti. (Despite the rain, we went out.) |
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