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Some Spanish words have different meanings when written with or without an accent. It is necessary to pay special attention to aún and aun and what they mean each time:
Aún with a written accent
Aún is an adverb. It is usually translated as still, yet, however.
Aún is used when:
- it refers to time. For example:
However, the synonym "todavía" is more common in this context.
Aún no he ido al médico. = Todavía no he ido al médico.
I haven't been to the doctor yet.
Aún me duele la cabeza. = Todavía me duele la cabeza.
My head still hurts.
- it is the equivalent of "nonetheless/yet" (aún = sin embargo/no obstante)
This usage of aún is a lot less common than sin embargo or no obstante.
Te llamo a todas horas y sin embargo/no obstante dices que no te hago caso.
- it is an intensifier, used with más, menos, mejor, peor
Le ofrecieron más dinero aún que en el antiguo trabajo.They offered him even more money than in his old job.
Note that in this case, as an intensifier, we are not using the general translations stated above for aún. Instead, we are translating it here as "even ...." But in these cases, although it may sound a bit old-fashioned, you could also use "still"; for example:
Aun without a written accent
Aun is also an adverb. It's usually translated as even or despite.
For example:
Aun is very often used with cuando / con / si:
aun cuando... = even when...
aun con... = even with...
aun si = even if...
Aun is slightly formal; it's a bit more colloquial to use the adverb "incluso" in these cases. For example:
Aun con ventaja, no ganaron el partido = Incluso con ventaja, no ganaron el partido
Even with an advantage, they didn't win the match.
Aun así vs aún así
Aun así and aún así are both correct, but they mean different things.
Aun así (aun without an accent) means even so, despite that.
For example:
Aún así (aún with a written accent) is a combination of aún (still) and así (like that/that way)
For example:
Remember:
- aún = still / yet / nonetheless; even (as an intensifier)
- aun = even / despite
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