Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| bien que | /bjɛ̃ kə/ |
| quoique | /kwa.kə/ |
| alors même que | /a.lɔʁ mɛm kə/ |
| quand bien même | /kɑ̃ bjɛ̃ mɛm/ |
While bien que and quoique are standard ways to say "even though," alors même que adds emphasis to the simultaneity of the two facts, carrying the sense of "even at the very moment that." Additionally, the term malgré can express a similar idea of concession, but it is used specifically when followed by a noun or a pronoun.
Which one should you use?
bien que and quoique are often interchangeable, though quoique is a single word and is considered slightly more formal than the two-word bien que. The phrase quand bien même differs significantly in its grammatical requirements, as it is typically followed by the conditional mood rather than the subjunctive. When you want to emphasize that two things are happening at the exact same time, use alors même que.
How does it change in a sentence?
The conjunction bien que must be followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. This same rule applies to quoique, which also requires the subjunctive. In contrast, quand bien même is typically followed by the conditional mood. If you choose to use malgré, note that it does not require the subjunctive mood because it is used with nouns or pronouns rather than full clauses.
How do you pronounce it?
/bjɛ̃ kə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the indicative mood after bien que. English speakers often mistakenly use the indicative because they are translating directly from English, but French requires the subjunctive mood in this structure.
Did you know?
- The word bien in bien que comes from the Latin word 'bene', meaning 'well'.
Examples in context
- Bien que malade, il alla à l'école.Even though he was sick, he went to school.This sentence shows how to use bien que to express a concession regarding someone's health.Tatoeba #1440894 by sacredceltic, translation #1440025 by CH
- Bien que malade, il s'est rendu à l'école.Even though he was ill, he went to school.This sentence demonstrates the use of bien que to describe someone going to school despite being ill.Tatoeba #1440893 by sacredceltic, translation #11913435 by sundown
- Bien que le temps fût mauvais, je décidai de sortir.Even though the weather was bad, I decided to go out.This sentence illustrates using bien que to express a decision made despite bad weather.Tatoeba #1467352 by sacredceltic, translation #1467240 by CK
- Bien que je sois fatigué, je vais travailler.Even though I am tired, I will work.
- Quoique vous ayez raison, je ne suis pas convaincu.Even though you are right, I am not convinced.
- Même si je suis fatigué, je vais sortir ce soir.Even though I am tired, I will go out tonight.
- Même si j'ai beaucoup de travail, je vais sortir ce soir.Even though I have a lot of work, I will go out tonight.
- Bien que tu sois en retard, nous t'attendrons.Even though you are late, we will wait for you.
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are discussing their plans despite the rain.
- HugoBien que nous soyons fatigués, on peut sortir.Even though we are tired, we can go out.
- LéaJe suis d'accord, Hugo.I agree, Hugo.
- HugoIl fait froid, mais je veux marcher.It is cold, but I want to walk.
- LéaD'accord, allons-y alors.Okay, let's go then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “even though” translations and entries bien que, quoique, alors même que, quand bien même, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alors, bien, bien que, que, quoique, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
