Discourse Markers
Discourse Markers
These are the words that make longer spoken or written Spanish hang together — signaling contrast, consequence, or addition without adding new information of their own.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Sin embargo and no obstante: formal 'however'
sin embargo, decidió ir (however, he decided to go) — a stronger, more formal contrast than pero
however, he decided to go — English also reaches for a more formal connector in writing
Sin embargo and no obstante both mean 'however', and both sit more comfortably in writing or formal speech than pero — using them constantly in casual conversation can sound stiff, the same way overusing 'however' instead of 'but' would in English. Match the register of the connector to the register of the rest of your sentence.
Por lo tanto and por consiguiente mark a consequence
no estudió; por lo tanto, no aprobó (he didn't study; therefore, he didn't pass)
he didn't study; therefore, he didn't pass — 'therefore' plays the same role
These connectors flag that what follows is a direct logical result of what came before — useful for argumentative or explanatory writing specifically, distinct from a simple time-sequence word like entonces. Reaching for these instead of a plain 'and so' is one of the clearest markers of more sophisticated written Spanish.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
- English
- however
- English
- nevertheless
- English
- therefore
- English
- consequently
- English
- furthermore / besides
- English
- on the other hand
- English
- on the other hand / instead
- English
- that is to say
- English
- in fact
- English
- in summary