{"id":116137,"date":"2022-08-11T08:30:09","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T06:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/?p=116137"},"modified":"2026-06-03T11:13:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:13:22","slug":"aun-asi-or-aun-asi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/aun-asi-or-aun-asi\/","title":{"rendered":"Aun as\u00ed or A\u00fan as\u00ed? The Accent Mark That Changes the Meaning and How to Never Make a Mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

In Spanish, accent marks (tildes) are not just ornaments on words; they often mark crucial differences in meaning. A classic example that usually generates confusion is the correct use of aun as\u00ed<\/b> and a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>. Although both expressions are pronounced the same, they do not mean the same thing, and writing them with or without an accent mark totally changes the meaning of the sentence.<\/p>\n

If you have ever wondered when you should put an accent mark on \u201caun\u201d or whether it is better to write \u201caun as\u00ed\u201d or \u201ca\u00fan as\u00ed,\u201d this article is for you. Here you will find not only the grammatical rule but also clear explanations, practical examples, curiosities about the Spanish language, and tips so that you never doubt how to use them again.<\/p>\n

The Base: What Do \u201cAun\u201d and \u201cA\u00fan\u201d Mean?<\/h2>\n

To understand the problem well, the first thing is to know the difference between aun<\/b> and a\u00fan<\/b> separately.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • A\u00fan<\/b> with an accent mark is an adverb of time that means still<\/i> or yet<\/i>.
    \nFor example:
    \n\u201cA\u00fan<\/b> no he terminado el trabajo.\u201d (<\/span>I still haven’t finished the work.<\/i>)
    \n<\/span>\u201cElla est\u00e1 a\u00fan<\/b> en la universidad.\u201d (<\/span>She is still at the university.<\/i>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In these cases, the accent mark indicates that the word is stressed (tonic) and that the sense is temporal\u2014that is, something that keeps happening or continues without change.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Aun<\/b> without an accent mark is a concessive adverb. It can be translated as even<\/i>, including<\/i>, although<\/i>, or despite<\/i>.
      \nFor example:
      \n\u201cAun<\/b> los mejores fallan alguna vez.\u201d (Even the best fail sometimes.<\/i>)
      \n\u201cAun<\/b> con lluvia, salimos a correr.\u201d (Even with rain \/ Despite the rain, we went for a run.<\/i>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n

      Here, aun<\/b> indicates a concession, meaning that something happens despite a certain difficulty or condition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      Why Is the Accent Mark Important?<\/h2>\n

      In Spanish, the diacritical accent (tilde diacr\u00edtica<\/b>) is used to differentiate words that are written the same way but have different meanings or functions. In this case, the accent mark on a\u00fan<\/b> marks that the word is a stressed adverb of time, while aun<\/b> without an accent mark is an unstressed adverb with a concessive meaning.<\/p>\n

      This difference is fundamental because it changes the meaning of sentences that seem very similar.<\/p>\n

      \u201cAun as\u00ed\u201d: The Expression Without an Accent Mark<\/h2>\n

      The expression aun as\u00ed<\/b> (without an accent mark on aun<\/b>) is used to introduce an idea that contrasts or opposes what has been said before. It is equivalent to saying however<\/i>, despite that<\/i>, even so<\/i>, or nevertheless<\/i>.<\/p>\n

      Examples:<\/b><\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        \u201cLa carretera estaba cortada por obras, pero aun as\u00ed<\/b> conseguimos llegar a tiempo.\u201d (The road was closed due to construction, but even so, we managed to arrive on time.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        \u201cNo ten\u00eda ganas de salir, pero aun as\u00ed<\/b> fui a la fiesta.\u201d (I didn’t feel like going out, but nevertheless, I went to the party.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        \u201cEl examen era dif\u00edcil, aun as\u00ed<\/b> muchos aprobaron.\u201d (The exam was difficult; even so, many passed.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        In these cases, aun<\/b> cannot be replaced by \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d (still<\/i>) because it would lose its meaning.<\/p>\n

        \n

        A trick to remember:<\/b> If you can replace aun<\/b> with despite that<\/i> or however<\/i>, it does not take an accent mark.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

        \u201cA\u00fan as\u00ed\u201d: The Expression With an Accent Mark<\/h2>\n

        On the other hand, a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b> (with an accent mark on a\u00fan<\/b>) is used when the adverb a\u00fan<\/b> maintains its temporal meaning of still<\/i> or yet<\/i>, and is combined with as\u00ed<\/b>, which indicates mode or manner (like this\/that<\/i> or in this\/that state<\/i>).<\/p>\n

        Examples:<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n

          \u201cLas m\u00e1quinas est\u00e1n a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>, sin funcionar.\u201d (The machines are still like that, not working.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          \u201cEl proyecto sigue adelante, a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b> con retrasos.\u201d (The project keeps moving forward, still like that, with delays.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          \u201cEl problema persiste, a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b> seguimos intentando solucionarlo.\u201d (The problem persists; still like that, we keep trying to solve it.<\/i>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          In these sentences, a\u00fan<\/b> is equivalent to \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d (still<\/i>), and the expression speaks about the state or manner in which something continues. You can replace a\u00fan<\/b> with \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d without losing the meaning.<\/p>\n

          How to Distinguish Them Easily?<\/h2>\n

          The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE<\/b>) recommends this simple method to avoid errors:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

            If replacing aun<\/b> with todav\u00eda<\/b> makes sense in the sentence, it is written with an accent mark: a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            If the sentence makes sense with a pesar de eso<\/b> (despite that<\/i>) or sin embargo<\/b> (however<\/i>), it is written without an accent mark: aun as\u00ed<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Let’s look at some practical examples to clarify it even further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
            Sentence<\/strong><\/td>\nSubstitution with \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d<\/strong><\/td>\nSubstitution with \u201ca pesar de eso\u201d<\/strong><\/td>\nCorrect Form<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
            \u201cAun as\u00ed<\/b>, sali\u00f3 a correr.\u201d<\/span><\/td>\nDoes not make sense<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\nWithout accent mark<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            \u201cLas luces est\u00e1n a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nWith accent mark<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            \u201cEl concierto estaba lleno, aun as\u00ed<\/b> llegu\u00e9 tarde.\u201d<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\nWithout accent mark<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            \u201cEl motor sigue funcionando a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\nWith accent mark<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

            Common Errors and Their Impact<\/h2>\n

            Although the rule is simple, it is common to find confusion in texts, media, and even among people who write professionally. For example:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • \n

              Incorrect:<\/i> \u201cHay bandera roja en la playa, pero, a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>, algunos ba\u00f1istas no se han podido resistir.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Incorrect:<\/i> \u201cLa cifra es inferior a la registrada la semana pasada y, a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>, se mantiene alta.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              In both cases, the correct way is to write aun as\u00ed<\/b> without an accent mark, because the meaning is concessive: \u201ca pesar de eso\u201d (even so \/ despite that<\/i>).<\/p>\n

              These confusions can make the reader pause or get confused, and in formal contexts\u2014such as reports, academic, or professional texts\u2014it is an error that reduces clarity and precision.<\/p>\n

              Did You Know…?<\/h2>\n

              The diacritical accent mark on words like a\u00fan<\/b> is a particular feature of Spanish that helps differentiate homonymous words. Other words with a diacritical accent mark are t\u00fa<\/b> (you) and tu<\/b> (your), or m\u00e1s<\/b> (more) and mas<\/b> (but).<\/p>\n

              The curious thing is that the RAE<\/b> has relaxed this rule in some cases, such as with the word solo<\/b> (which can carry an accent mark or not depending on the context), or with demonstratives (este<\/b>, ese<\/b>), where the accent mark is considered dispensable to avoid confusion. But with aun<\/b> and a\u00fan<\/b>, the accent mark remains mandatory to maintain the difference in meaning.<\/p>\n

              This shows that in Spanish, accent marks are not capricious; instead, they fulfill an essential function for comprehension.<\/p>\n

              Tips to Avoid Mistakes When Writing<\/h2>\n
                \n
              1. \n

                Think about the meaning:<\/b> Do you want to say \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d (still<\/i>) or \u201ca pesar de eso\u201d (even so \/ despite that<\/i>)?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              2. \n

                Do the substitution test:<\/b> Change aun<\/b> to \u201ctodav\u00eda\u201d and then to \u201ca pesar de eso\u201d to see which one makes sense.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              3. \n

                Check the context:<\/b> If you are introducing a contrast, it is likely aun as\u00ed<\/b> without an accent mark. If you are talking about a state or time that continues, it takes an accent mark.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              4. \n

                Consult reliable sources:<\/b> Fund\u00e9u, the RAE<\/b>, or recognized dictionaries are always a good support.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              5. \n

                Read aloud:<\/b> Sometimes, the pronunciation and rhythm can help you decide.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Exercises to Practice<\/h2>\n

                Complete these sentences with the correct form (aun as\u00ed<\/b> or a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b>):<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \n

                  No ten\u00eda ganas de salir, pero __________ fui a la reuni\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                2. \n

                  La pel\u00edcula era aburrida, pero la m\u00fasica estaba __________ incre\u00edble.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                3. \n

                  El proyecto est\u00e1 atrasado, __________ hay esperanzas de terminar a tiempo.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                4. \n

                  El motor sigue funcionando __________, aunque tenga algunos fallos.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                5. \n

                  Los problemas son muchos, pero __________ conf\u00edo en que encontraremos soluci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Solutions<\/h2>\n
                    \n
                  1. \n

                    aun as\u00ed<\/b> (equivalent to \u201ca pesar de eso\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  2. \n

                    a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b> (equivalent to \u201ctodav\u00eda as\u00ed\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  3. \n

                    aun as\u00ed<\/b><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  4. \n

                    a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  5. \n

                    aun as\u00ed<\/b><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    To Conclude<\/h2>\n

                    The accent mark on a\u00fan<\/b> is small, but it marks a huge difference. Understanding when to use aun as\u00ed<\/b> or a\u00fan as\u00ed<\/b> will help you communicate better and with greater professionalism, in addition to avoiding errors that can confuse or distract the reader.<\/p>\n

                    It is not just a matter of grammar, but of precision and care in the language. So the next time you write this expression, remember the substitution trick and the meaning of the sentence. You will be surprised by how easy it is to get it right!<\/p>\n

                    If you are interested in delving deeper into other diacritical accent marks or common doubts in Spanish, let me know and I will prepare more examples and explanations for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Clear explanation of the difference between \u201caun as\u00ed\u201d and \u201ca\u00fan as\u00ed\u201d in Spanish, with simple rules, practical examples, and tips to correctly use the diacritical accent mark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24964,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[650],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116137"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116147,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116137\/revisions\/116147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}