What Does Albeit Mean? | Meaning & Examples
Albeit is a conjunction meaning “even though” or “although.” It’s always written as one word, not as “all be it.”
“Albeit” is used to introduce a subordinate clause that qualifies or contrasts with the information given in the main clause of a sentence.
Karla is very nice, albeit sometimes stubborn.
The theater is beautiful, albeit old.
Sebastian is an artist, albeit an unpopular one.
Albeit vs. although
While “albeit” can often be used interchangeably with “although,” this is not always possible.
“Albeit” is always used to modify another clause, so it can’t be used in an independent clause (i.e., a clause that can act as a standalone sentence). “Although” can be used in an independent clause.
- It’s a beautiful day, albeit/although a bit cloudy.
- It’s a beautiful day, although it is a bit cloudy.
- It’s a beautiful day, albeit it is a bit cloudy.
Albeit vs. howbeit
Like albeit, howbeit can be used as a conjunction meaning “although.” It can also be used as an adverb meaning “nevertheless.” When used as a conjunction, howbeit can often be used interchangeably with albeit.
Unlike albeit, howbeit can be used in an independent clause in the same way as “although.”
However, howbeit is rarely used in modern English—using it, you may come across as old-fashioned or even not be understood.
- I’ve seen the film, albeit/howbeit a long time ago.
- Howbeit I’ve seen the film, it was a long time ago.
- Albeit I’ve seen the film, it was a long time ago.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What is a synonym for “albeit”?
-
Some words with a similar or identical meaning to albeit (depending on context) include:
- Although
- But
- Howbeit
- Notwithstanding
- Though
- While
- How do I pronounce “albeit”?
-
Albeit has three syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable: [awl-bee-it].
Because some people pronounce “I’ll” in a similar way to the first syllable, they sometimes mistakenly write “I’ll be it” in place of “albeit.” This is incorrect and should be avoided.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Ryan, E. (2023, March 13). What Does Albeit Mean? | Meaning & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/definitions/albeit/
