How to express a contradiction in German

"Obwohl" and "trotzdem" both let you express a contradiction in German — but mixing up their word order is one of the most common B1 mistakes. One is a subordinating conjunction, the other is an adverb, and that single grammatical difference changes where the verb has to go. Here's how to tell them apart and use both correctly.

What Do "Obwohl" and "Trotzdem" Mean?

Both words translate roughly to "although" / "even though" (obwohl) and "nevertheless" / "still" (trotzdem) — they connect two ideas that contradict each other. The tricky part isn't the meaning, it's the grammar: they belong to two different word categories, so they behave completely differently in a sentence.

"Obwohl" — A Subordinating Conjunction

Obwohl is a subordinating conjunction, which means it introduces a subordinate clause and sends the conjugated verb all the way to the end of that clause. Ich gehe joggen, obwohl es regnet. (I'm going jogging, although it's raining.) If the obwohl-clause comes first, the main clause that follows starts directly with its conjugated verb: Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich joggen. Since obwohl-clauses can't stand alone as a full sentence, they always need a main clause attached.

"Trotzdem" — An Adverb

Trotzdem is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it doesn't pull a verb to the end of anything. Instead, it follows normal verb-second word order. If trotzdem is the first element of a sentence, the conjugated verb comes right after it: Es regnet. Trotzdem gehe ich joggen. (It's raining. Nevertheless, I'm going jogging.) It can also sit later in the clause without changing the word order: Ich gehe trotzdem joggen. Unlike an obwohl-clause, a trotzdem-sentence is a complete, independent sentence on its own.

Obwohl vs. Trotzdem: The Key Difference at a Glance

Think of it this way: obwohl glues two ideas into one sentence and pushes the verb to the end of its own clause, while trotzdem stands as its own sentence (or clause) and just follows the normal verb-second rule. That's why you'll often see the exact same idea expressed with either word, just with a different sentence structure: Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich joggen. vs. Es regnet. Trotzdem gehe ich joggen.

Bonus Tip: "Obschon" as a Formal Alternative

If you want to sound a little more formal or literary, German also has obschon, which works exactly like obwohl (same subordinating word order) and means the same thing. You won't hear it often in everyday conversation, but it does show up in writing and more formal speech — so it's worth being able to recognize it even if you stick with obwohl yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between "obwohl" and "trotzdem"?

"Obwohl" is a subordinating conjunction that sends the verb to the end of its clause and needs a main clause attached, while "trotzdem" is an adverb that follows normal verb-second word order and can form its own complete sentence.

Why does the verb go to the end after "obwohl"?

Because "obwohl" is a subordinating conjunction. In German, subordinating conjunctions (like "obwohl," "weil," or "dass") always push the conjugated verb to the very end of their clause.

Can "trotzdem" start a sentence?

Yes — and when it does, the conjugated verb comes directly after it, following normal verb-second word order: "Trotzdem gehe ich joggen."

Can I use "obwohl" and "trotzdem" to say the same thing?

Often yes, just with different sentence structures: "Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich joggen" and "Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich joggen" express essentially the same contradiction.

Is there a more formal word for "obwohl"?

Yes, "obschon" means the same thing and follows the same subordinating word order, but it sounds more formal or literary than "obwohl."

Contradiction words like these are exactly the kind of grammar our B1 German Course works into real conversation practice, not just isolated grammar drills.