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.

banner5 PLACEHOLDER

Quick Quiz: Can You Spot the Difference?

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!

Understanding Aun (Without Accent): When It Means "Even"

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:

📌 Aun = Even, Including, Also

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

 Play Caption

📌 The Expression Aun Así (Even So)

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

 Play Caption

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)

📌 Aun Cuando (Even When/Although)

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

 Play Caption

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Understanding Aún (With Accent): When It Means "Still" or "Yet"

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:

📌 Temporal Meaning: Still/Yet

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

 Play Caption

Así que aún queda la pequeña esperanza.

So, there's still a little hope.

Caption 44, Rosa - Fuente de Piedra

 Play Caption

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

 Play Caption

📌 Using Aún to Express "Still" with Contrast

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.

📌 Emphatic Meaning: Even More

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

 Play Caption

banner2 PLACEHOLDER

Quick Reference Guide

To help you remember when to use each form, here's a quick summary:

Write aun (no accent) when:

• 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)

Write aún (with accent) when:

• 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

Quiz Answers Revealed

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

 Play Caption

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!

banner4 PLACEHOLDER