Have you ever wondered when to write aun with an accent mark in Spanish? This small tilde can completely change the meaning of the word. In this lesson, we'll explore the difference between aun and aún, when to use the accent mark, and how to avoid common mistakes that even native speakers make.
Before we dive in, let's test your knowledge. Which word would you use in the following sentences, aun or aún?
____ si te digo la verdad, no me crees
Even if I tell you the truth, you don't believe me
Estamos ____ en la fase de entrevistas.
We are still in the interview phase.
Keep reading to discover the answer!
The word aun without a graphic accent is an unstressed adverb that means "even," "including," "also," or "not even" (ni siquiera). Let's break down when to use it:
When aun is unstressed and equivalent to incluso (including/even), hasta (even/up to), también (also), or (ni) siquiera (not even), you write it without the tilde. Here are some examples:
Aun estudiando mucho, no pasó el examen
Even studying hard, he did not pass the exam
Yo hice aun más de lo que quería
I did even more than I wanted
he vivido demasiado
I have lived too much
aun con tanta historia
even with so much history
Captions 7-8, Kany Garcia - Estigma de amor
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This is where many Spanish speakers get confused! The connector aun así (without a tilde) is equivalent to pese a eso (despite that), a pesar de eso (in spite of that), con todo (even so), or sin embargo (however). It never carries an accent mark:
Revolvimos los planetas
We stirred the planets
Y aun así te vas
And even so you leave
Captions 16-17, Belanova - Y aun así te vas
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However, the sequence aún así (with a tilde) is different. When aún carries the tilde, it means todavía así (still like that), with aún functioning as a temporal adverb. Compare these examples:
Llovió todo el día, pero, aun así, decidimos salir (It rained all day, but even so, we decided to go out) → connector meaning "despite that"
Mi hermano vive aún así, sin preocupaciones (My brother still lives like that, without worries) → aún = todavía (still)
Similarly, the conjunction aun cuando is always written without a tilde:
Saldría aun cuando pegó y se resistió bastante.
He would get released even though he struck (them) and resisted quite a lot.
Caption 65, Yago 11 Prisión - Part 4
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Now let's look at when you need to add that accent mark. The adverb aún is a stressed word that requires a tilde when it means todavía (still or yet). Here are the three main cases:
When aún expresses that something continues to happen or hasn't happened yet, you need the accent mark:
Para los que aún no me conocen, mi nombre es Natalia.
For those who still don't know me, my name is Natalia.
Caption 3, Natalia de Ecuador - Consejos: haciendo amigos como adultos
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Así que aún queda la pequeña esperanza.
So, there's still a little hope.
Caption 44, Rosa - Fuente de Piedra
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Durante este período, México aún tenía el nombre de la Nueva España.
During this period, Mexico still had the name New Spain.
Caption 16, Paseando con Karen - Monterrey - Museo de Historia Mexicana
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When aún expresses contrast or surprise and can be replaced by todavía (still), it needs the tilde:
Le sirvieron la comida a él primero y aún se quejó
They served him the food first and he still complained
In this example, aún shows surprise or contrast (despite being served first, he still complained) and can be replaced with todavía: Le sirvieron la comida a él primero y todavía se quejó.
When aún is used for emphasis, typically with words like más (more), menos (less), mejor (better), or peor (worse), it carries a tilde. Although you might translate this as "even," the pronunciation is stressed (tonic), which is why the accent mark is required:
la situación se ha deteriorado aún más, desencadenando una grave crisis humanitaria.
the situation has deteriorated even more, triggering a serious humanitarian crisis.
Captions 38-39, Vocabulario de noticias Política internacional - Part 3
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To help you remember when to use each form, here's a quick summary:
• It means incluso (even, including), hasta (up to, even), también (also), or (ni) siquiera (not even)
• You use the connector aun así (even so, despite that)
• You use the conjunction aun cuando (even when/although)
• It means todavía (still, yet) in a temporal sense
• It expresses contrast or surprise and can be replaced by todavía
• It's used for emphasis with más, menos, mejor, or peor
Let's go back to our initial quiz and see the correct answers:
Aun si te digo la verdad, no me crees
Even if I tell you the truth, you don't believe me
Estamos aún en la fase de entrevistas.
We are still in the interview phase.
Caption 19, Negocios - La solicitud de empleo
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And that's it for today. We hope this lesson has cleared up any confusion about when to use aun versus aún in Spanish. Remember, that little tilde makes a big difference in meaning! Ready to share your thoughts? We'd love to hear from you with any questions or comments you might have!
Even native speakers have no end of trouble with the distinction between aun and aún. In fact, this newsletter was instigated when our chief proofreader removed the accents she found on the u's in Belanova's title refrain Y aun así te vas. The band's own CD shows an accent on the u, so we were dubious. Ultimately, she convinced us that there should be no accent on the u in the phrase aun así. Hopefully the following will convince you too!
Revolvimos los planetas
We stirred the planets
Y aun así te vas
And even so you leave
Captions 16-17, Belanova - Y aun así te vas
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Aun así is a Spanish idiom, or usage expression, meaning "even so", "still" or "yet." We could have equally well translated the line as "And still you leave," or "And yet you leave."
Hace frío afuera, aun así ella no se pone un abrigo.
It's cold outside, yet she won't wear a coat.
No tengo mucho dinero, pero aun así voy a comprar la computadora.
I don't have much money, but still I'm going to buy the computer.
Habíamos pagado por la habitación y aun así tuvimos que buscar otro hotel.
We had paid for the room and yet we had to look for another hotel.
Aun así, creo que deberías disculparte.
Even so, I think you should apologize.
The word aun, by itself, and with no accent over the u, and not followed by así, can often be translated as "even."
No como torta, aun en mi cumpleaños.
I don't eat cake, even for my birthday.
Aun cuando lo leyera, no lo entendería.
I wouldn't understand it, even if I read it.
Ni aun sabiendo la dirección llegarías a su casa.
Not even knowing the address would you find his house.
Can you see how when we put aun together with así ("like this" / "this way"), we get something along the lines of "even like this" / "even this way"? Or, more concisely, "even so"? Diccionario de Uso del Español, by María Moliner, a favorite of professional translators, goes deeper:
"AUN ASÍ" Expresión adverbial de significado adversativo, ya que expresa oposición entre el resultado real de la circunstancia expresada por "así" y el que podría esperarse de ella. "Aun así no llegaís a tiempo"
"AUN ASÍ" Adverbial phrase with adversative meaning since there is a contrast between the actual outcome of that circumstance expressed by "así" and the expected result. "And still / yet you are not on time"
If that's a bit too deep, ¡no importa! (don't worry), just remember the basic meaning and you'll be fine!
Aún, with the accent on the ú, means "up until the present moment" and is basically synonymous with todavía. Confusingly enough, aún is also defined as "yet," "still," but in the temporal sense (as opposed to when they mean "even so" / aun así).
¿Aún estás aquí?
¿Todavía estás aquí?
Are you still here?
Aún no ha llamado.
Todavía no ha llamado.
She hasn’t called yet.
Ya son las once y aún no ha llamado.
Ya son las once y todavía no ha llamado.
It’s already eleven o’clock and she still hasn’t called.
¿Has tenido noticias? —Aún no
¿Has tenido noticias? —Todavía no
Have you had any news? — Not yet.
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