Sin Embargo: Translation, Use, Synonyms, and More!

If you are looking for a word that helps you communicate contrast, opposition, or restriction between two sentences, sin embargo is an excellent choice. This word is an adverbial locution since it is formed with two words: the preposition sin, and the noun embargo, that together form a single expression that functions as an adverb.

What Does Sin Embargo Mean?

Sin embargo in English is equal to however, nevertheless, or though, and uses similar punctuation rules. You can associate sin embargo with pero. The difference is that sin embargo is more formal, and that it puts more emphasis on the opposition or contrast between the two ideas.

How to Use Sin Embargo

As mentioned before, sin embargo points to a relationship between two ideas where one opposes, limits, or restricts the other. It is important to note that although there is an opposition between the two parts of a sentence, it doesn’t mean that one of the parts is false. Both are still true.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

• Los jugadores entrenaron mucho y jugaron muy bien. Sin embargo, perdieron el partido. – The players trained a lot and played very well. However, they lost the match.

• Estudié mucho para el examen; sin embargo, no lo aprobé. – I studied a lot for the exam; however, I didn’t pass it.

• El bolso es hermoso. Es muy caro, sin embargo. – The bag is beautiful. It is very expensive, however.

Sin Embargo: Sentence Placement and Punctuation

As you could see in the previous examples, sin embargo can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. When we write sin embargo, it’s separated by punctuation from the rest of the sentence.

At the beginning of a sentence

When sin embargo starts a sentence, it usually opposes or contrasts the previous idea. In a written context, this separation of sentences is done by placing the sin embargo between a period or a semicolon and a comma.

• Toda la junta directiva asistió a la reunión. Sin embargo, la mitad de los empleados no se presentó. – The entire board of directors attended the meeting. However, half of the employees did not show up.

• En el restaurante había un letrero en el que se prohibía fumar. Sin embargo, algunos clientes decidieron ignorarlo y empezaron a fumar. – There was a no smoking sign in the restaurant. However, some customers decided to ignore it and started smoking.

• Podrías haberme pedido ayuda; sin embargo, preferiste arreglar el computador tú solo. – You could have asked me for help; however, you preferred to fix the computer by yourself.

• Andrea está ilusionada con el viaje a Paris; sin embargo, no sabe si tiene suficientes ahorros para viajar. – Andrea is excited about the trip to Paris; however, she doesn’t know if she has enough savings to travel.

In the middle of a sentence

When sin embargo is in the middle of a sentence, it must be written between commas to separate it from the rest of the elements in the sentence.

• Hace bastante tiempo que ellos terminaron su relación, sin embargo, se siguen extrañando. – It’s been a long time since they ended their relationship, however, they still miss each other.

• Camila se portó muy amable con Juan. Él, sin embargo, se portó cortante y grosero con ella. – Camila was very kind to Juan. He, however, was blunt and rude with her.

• No terminamos el ensayo de literatura. Podemos entregarlo, sin embargo, mañana en la tarde. – We didn’t finish the literature essay. We can turn it in, however, tomorrow afternoon.

At the end of a sentence

When sin embargo is at the end of the contrasting or restrictive sentence, you separate it with a comma. It is important to know that the word sin embargo is not usually at the end of a sentence, but you may hear it from time to time.

At the end of a sentence, sin embargo in English is often better translated as though.

• Ayer estudié tres horas para el examen. Debería estudiar más, sin embargo. – Yesterday I studied three hours for the exam. I should study more though.

• Seguí la receta al pie de la letra. No me salió, sin embargo. – I followed the recipe word for word. It didn’t work out though.

Words Similar to Sin Embargo

There are more adversative conjunctions that Spanish speakers use to express a contrast between two ideas.

Pero

Pero in English is but. Like all the adversative conjunctions, it joins two independent ideas and expresses opposition between them.

Pero is much more common and far less formal than sin embargo. You’re more likely to hear pero in spoken Spanish and sin embargo in written or academic Spanish.

• El pescado está delicioso, pero huele muy fuerte. – The fish is delicious, but it smells very strong.

• Iba a ir al cine, pero empezó a llover. – I was going to go to the movies, but it started to rain.

Aunque

Aunque in English is although, though, or even though. It is usually followed by the present indicative when it works as an adversative conjunction. It goes after a comma to oppose two elements in a sentence.

• Tú perro es muy lindo, aunque ladra mucho. – Your dog is very cute, even though he barks a lot.

• La mayor parte de la producción agrícola de la región se basa en la papa, aunque también se cultiva cebolla, tomate, hortalizas y legumbres. – Most of the region’s agricultural production is based on potatoes, although onions, tomatoes, vegetables and legumes are also grown.

No obstante

Like sin embargo in English, no obstante is best translated as however. Similarly, because it consists of two words, this expression is another adverbial locution. It can go before a conjugated verb or a noun, and it is used mainly in written scenarios between a semicolon and a comma.

No obstante is even more formal than sin embargo, but they can typically be used interchangeably.

• Este pantalón me queda bien; no obstante, prefiero otro de un color más oscuro. – These pants fit me well; nevertheless, I prefer another pair with a darker color.

• El jaguar es una especie protegida; no obstante, la cantidad de ejemplares decrece cada año. – The jaguar is a protected species; however, the number of animals decreases every year.

Conclusion

Going over the adverbial locution sin embargo (in English: however), we can say it is a useful word in spoken and written contexts when you need to express contrast, opposition, or restriction between two ideas.

When used in texts, sin embargo follows specific punctuation rules depending on the position of the word in the sentence. At the beginning of a sentence, to contrast a previous idea, it goes between a period and a comma or a semi-colon and a comma. In the middle of a sentence, it goes between two commas, and at the end of a sentence, between a comma and a period.

Remember that you can also use pero to oppose two ideas, but if you’re looking for a stronger and more formal word, sin embargo is a great option.