pese a
/ˈpese a/
The English phrase 'despite' can be translated into Spanish as pese a. Wiktionary also lists maguer.
Meaning: in spite of (prep)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| pese a | /ˈpese a/ |
| maguer | /maˈɡeɾ/ |
In formal written Spanish, the phrase no obstante can also be used to mean 'despite' or 'however'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word pese is the third-person singular present subjunctive of pesar, which can mean 'to weigh' or 'to cause grief/sorrow'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase a pesar de is a more common, everyday synonym for pese a.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form maguer is highly literary or archaic and is not used in standard spoken Spanish. For formal written Spanish, you may use no obstante.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use pese a que instead of pese a if you are followed by a conjugated verb clause rather than a noun or infinitive.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpese a/
Did you know?
- The word pesar used in pese a also means 'to weigh'. This reflects an ancient idea that something 'heavy' or a 'weight' can be an obstacle that one must overcome.
- The rare word maguer shares a common ancestor with the Italian word magari, though the Italian version has evolved to mean 'I wish' or 'maybe'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you say you are 'pesado', you are not talking about your weight, but saying that you are 'heavy' or 'annoying' to deal with.
Examples in context
- Pese a la borrasca, llegué a tiempo.Despite the storm, I arrived on time.This sentence is useful for using pese a with a noun.Tatoeba #9050868 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9050870 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Mary siguió trabajando pese a su enfermedad.Mary kept working despite her illness.Tatoeba #2349210 by Shishir, translation #4491149 by Joseph
- Pese a no verle viabilidad al proyecto, decidieron seguir adelante.Despite not thinking the project was viable, they decided to go ahead with it.This sentence is useful for using pese a with an infinitive.Tatoeba #10145606 by Shishir, translation #10611657 by DJ_Saidez
- A pesar de las dificultades, lograron terminar el proyecto a tiempo.Despite the difficulties, they managed to finish the project on time.
- No obstante las críticas, el equipo siguió adelante con su estrategia.Despite the criticism, the team proceeded with their strategy.
- A pesar de todo, se divirtieron mucho en la fiesta.Despite everything, they had a lot of fun at the party.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are discussing a hike they took in bad weather.
- ElenaPese a la lluvia, lo pasamos muy bien.Despite the rain, we had a great time.
- MateoSí, fue una aventura increíble para ti y para mí.Yes, it was an incredible adventure for you and me.
- ElenaAunque terminamos muy cansados.Even though we ended up very tired.
- MateoPese al cansancio, valió la pena la ruta.Despite the fatigue, the route was worth it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “despite” translations and entries pese a, maguer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, maguer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
