quamquam

Quamquam is a Latin conjunction meaning "although" or "even though." It introduces concessive clauses, which acknowledge a contrary circumstance while the main clause asserts a different or opposing point.

In Classical Latin, quamquam is typically followed by a verb in the indicative mood, signaling a real or asserted condition. In some authors and in later Latin, the subjunctive may occur, especially when the concession is presented as more hypothetical or in indirect speech. The clause order is usually quamquam + [subjunctive or indicative], with the main clause following.

Quamquam is commonly placed at the beginning of the concessive clause and is often paired with tamen, etiam, or non obstante to emphasize contrast. It can be translated as "although," "even though," or, in some contexts, "and yet." For example: Quamquam id difficile est, faciam. (Although that is difficult, I will do it.)

Etymology traces quamquam to a compound of quam, a form meaning "how" or "than," with an additional particle; the exact historical development is a matter of scholarly discussion. The word is treated as a stable concessive conjunction in Latin grammar and remains a hallmark of classical syntax. In modern Latin and linguistic descriptions, quamquam is distinguished from other concessive forms such as etsi or quamvis by its tighter binding to the clause it introduces and its frequent pairing with tamen.

See also: Latin conjunctions, concessive clauses, quam, etsi, quamvis.