Spoken Spanish runs on markers like bueno, pues, and o sea. Written Spanish — especially academic, journalistic, and professional writing — runs on a different set of connectors that signal logical relationships between ideas. These are the words that make an essay sound like an essay, a report sound authoritative, and an argument sound structured.
Most of these connectors exist in English too (however, nevertheless, furthermore, therefore), so the concepts aren't new. What's new is learning which Spanish connector maps to which function, which ones sound natural vs. stiff, and which ones carry grammatical consequences (like requiring the subjunctive).
This page organizes them by function. Within each group, connectors are listed roughly from most common to most formal.
Additive connectors
These add information that reinforces or extends what came before. They're the "and also" / "furthermore" / "moreover" family.
El proyecto fue exitoso. Asimismo, generó ingresos superiores a lo esperado.
The project was successful. Likewise, it generated higher-than-expected revenue.
La empresa redujo costos. De igual modo, mejoró la calidad del servicio.
The company reduced costs. Similarly, it improved the quality of service.
Los resultados fueron positivos. Por añadidura, el equipo superó sus metas individuales.
The results were positive. In addition, the team exceeded their individual goals.
Se detectaron problemas logísticos. Aunado a esto, hubo fallas en la comunicación interna.
Logistical problems were detected. In addition to this, there were failures in internal communication.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| asimismo / así mismo | likewise, also | standard written |
| de igual modo / de igual manera | in the same way | standard written |
| por añadidura | in addition, on top of that | formal |
| aunado a esto / aunado a ello | coupled with this | formal (Latin America) |
Contrastive connectors
These introduce opposition, contradiction, or an unexpected turn. They're the "however" / "nevertheless" / "on the other hand" family.
El informe es completo. No obstante, hay algunos datos que deben verificarse.
The report is thorough. Nevertheless, there are some data points that need to be verified.
La economía creció un 3%. Sin embargo, el desempleo no bajó.
The economy grew 3%. However, unemployment did not drop.
El plan parece sólido. Ahora bien, ¿tenemos el presupuesto para ejecutarlo?
The plan seems solid. Now then, do we have the budget to carry it out?
No se trata de reducir gastos. Por el contrario, hay que invertir más.
It's not about cutting expenses. On the contrary, we need to invest more.
El primer semestre fue difícil. En cambio, el segundo mostró mejoras claras.
The first semester was difficult. In contrast, the second showed clear improvements.
Sin embargo and no obstante are near-synonyms and interchangeable in most contexts. No obstante is slightly more formal. Ahora bien introduces a counterpoint or caveat — it's like "now, having said that" and works well when transitioning from agreement to a qualification.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| sin embargo | however | standard written |
| no obstante | nevertheless | formal |
| ahora bien | now then, that said | formal |
| por el contrario | on the contrary | standard written |
| en cambio | in contrast, on the other hand | standard written |
Consecutive / result connectors
These signal that what follows is a consequence or result of what came before. They're the "therefore" / "consequently" / "as a result" family.
No cumplieron con los requisitos. Por ende, fueron descalificados.
They did not meet the requirements. Therefore, they were disqualified.
Hubo recortes masivos, de ahí que el descontento haya crecido.
There were massive cuts — hence the growing discontent.
La demanda superó la oferta. Por consiguiente, los precios subieron.
Demand exceeded supply. Consequently, prices rose.
El sistema falló, de modo que tuvimos que reiniciar todo.
The system crashed, so we had to restart everything.
Los datos son concluyentes. En consecuencia, se aprobó el proyecto.
The data is conclusive. As a result, the project was approved.
| Connector | Meaning | Register | Grammar note |
|---|---|---|---|
| por ende | therefore | formal / academic | |
| de ahí que | hence, that is why | formal | + subjunctive |
| por consiguiente | consequently | formal | |
| de modo que | so, in such a way that | standard written | |
| en consecuencia | as a consequence | formal | |
| de suerte que | so that, such that | very formal / literary |
Reformulative connectors
These rephrase, clarify, or explain what was just said. They're the "that is" / "in other words" / "namely" family.
La tasa de inflación se duplicó, esto es, pasó del 5% al 10%.
The inflation rate doubled — that is, it went from 5% to 10%.
El estudio fue longitudinal, es decir, se realizó a lo largo de varios años.
The study was longitudinal — that is to say, it was conducted over several years.
Se evaluaron tres variables, a saber: edad, ingreso y nivel educativo.
Three variables were evaluated, namely: age, income, and education level.
No es un problema técnico. Dicho de otro modo, la tecnología funciona; lo que falla es la gestión.
It's not a technical problem. In other words, the technology works — what fails is the management.
La propuesta fue rechazada. En otras palabras, hay que empezar de cero.
The proposal was rejected. In other words, we have to start from scratch.
Es decir is by far the most common reformulative connector — it works in speech and writing. A saber introduces an enumeration ("namely"). Dicho de otro modo and en otras palabras are interchangeable and slightly more emphatic.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| es decir | that is to say | all written registers |
| esto es | that is | formal |
| a saber | namely | formal (introduces lists) |
| dicho de otro modo | put another way | standard written |
| en otras palabras | in other words | standard written |
Concessive connectors
These acknowledge a point while indicating that it doesn't change the main conclusion. They're the "even so" / "nevertheless" / "although" family.
El examen fue difícil. Con todo, la mayoría aprobó.
The exam was difficult. Even so, most students passed.
Hubo problemas logísticos. Aun así, el evento fue un éxito.
There were logistical problems. Even so, the event was a success.
Si bien los datos son preliminares, los resultados son prometedores.
Although the data is preliminary, the results are promising.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| con todo | even so, for all that | formal |
| aun así | even so | standard written |
| si bien | although, even though | formal (+ indicative) |
| pese a ello / pese a esto | despite this | formal |
Ordering connectors
These organize points in a sequence. They're the "firstly" / "on one hand" / "regarding" family.
En primer lugar, es necesario definir los objetivos.
In the first place, it is necessary to define the objectives.
Por un lado, la propuesta reduce costos. Por otro, implica riesgos.
On one hand, the proposal reduces costs. On the other, it involves risks.
En lo que respecta a la seguridad, se implementaron nuevos protocolos.
With regard to security, new protocols were implemented.
En lo que atañe al presupuesto, no hay margen de maniobra.
As far as the budget is concerned, there is no room for maneuver.
En lo que atañe a is notably more formal than en lo que respecta a — you'll see it in legal, administrative, and academic texts. For everyday professional writing, en lo que respecta a or en cuanto a are more natural.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| en primer lugar / en segundo lugar | firstly / secondly | standard written |
| por un lado... por otro (lado) | on one hand... on the other | standard written |
| en lo que respecta a | with regard to | formal |
| en lo que atañe a | as far as X is concerned | very formal |
| en cuanto a | as for, regarding | standard written |
Conclusive connectors
These wrap up an argument or summarize. They're the "in short" / "in conclusion" / "all things considered" family.
En suma, los resultados fueron satisfactorios.
In short, the results were satisfactory.
En definitiva, el proyecto no es viable.
Ultimately, the project is not viable.
A fin de cuentas, lo que importa es la calidad.
At the end of the day, what matters is quality.
En resumidas cuentas, no tenemos los recursos.
In a nutshell, we don't have the resources.
En definitiva is the strongest of these — it carries a sense of finality, of having weighed everything and arrived at a verdict. A fin de cuentas is slightly less formal and works in semi-formal speech too.
| Connector | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| en suma | in short | formal |
| en definitiva | ultimately, in the final analysis | formal |
| a fin de cuentas | at the end of the day | standard (also spoken) |
| en resumidas cuentas | in a nutshell | standard written |
| en conclusión | in conclusion | standard written |
Quick-reference table
| Function | Key connectors | Subjunctive? |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | asimismo, de igual modo, por añadidura | no |
| Contrastive | sin embargo, no obstante, ahora bien, por el contrario, en cambio | no |
| Consecutive | por ende, por consiguiente, de modo que, en consecuencia | no |
| Consecutive | de ahí que | yes |
| Reformulative | es decir, esto es, a saber, en otras palabras | no |
| Concessive | con todo, aun así, si bien | no (si bien takes indicative) |
| Ordering | en primer lugar, por un lado, en lo que respecta a | no |
| Conclusive | en suma, en definitiva, a fin de cuentas | no |
Common mistakes
Using de ahí que with the indicative. This is the single most common grammar error with formal connectors. It's always de ahí que + subjunctive: de ahí que haya crecido (not ha crecido). Even native speakers sometimes get this wrong in unedited writing.
Stacking multiple connectors. A sentence that starts with Sin embargo, no obstante, por otro lado... sounds like a parody. Pick one connector per transition. If the logical relationship is clear from context, you may not need one at all.
Using spoken markers in formal writing. O sea, bueno, pues, and entonces are casual. In formal prose, replace them: o sea becomes es decir, entonces becomes por lo tanto or en consecuencia, bueno disappears entirely.
Overusing por lo tanto. It's the first formal connector most learners acquire, so it gets overworked. Vary your vocabulary: por ende, por consiguiente, en consecuencia, de modo que all serve the same function.
Treating en cambio and por el contrario as identical. They're close but not the same. En cambio signals contrast between two different subjects or situations ("X did this; Y, on the other hand, did that"). Por el contrario signals direct opposition to what was just said ("It's not X. On the contrary, it's the opposite of X").
Forgetting that si bien takes the indicative. Unlike aunque (which can take either mood), si bien almost always concedes a real, established fact and therefore takes the indicative. Si bien los datos son preliminares... (not sean).
Related pages
- Discourse Markers Overview — the full inventory of spoken and written markers
- De Hecho — a mid-register strengthening marker
- Advanced Adversative Conjunctions — pero, sino, sino que, and more
- Academic Register — how to write in formal Spanish
Related Topics
- Discourse Markers OverviewB1 — A tour of the little words — pues, bueno, o sea, a ver — that make Spanish sound natural.
- De HechoB1 — 'In fact', 'actually' — a marker for strengthening, contradicting, or adding surprising information.
- Advanced Adversative ConnectorsC1 — Beyond pero and sino — no obstante, ahora bien, en cambio, and the subtle differences among adversative connectors.
- Academic and Formal Written RegisterC1 — The linguistic features of academic Spanish — impersonal constructions, nominalization, hedging, and the rhetoric of scholarly writing.