Unatoč tome što smo propustili povezani let, predana prtljaga je stigla.

to be

Breakdown of Unatoč tome što smo propustili povezani let, predana prtljaga je stigla.

• stići: to arrive
• propustiti: to miss
• unatoč tome što: despite the fact that

Questions & Answers about Unatoč tome što smo propustili povezani let, predana prtljaga je stigla.

What does Unatoč tome što mean, and how is it different from just iako?

Unatoč tome što means despite the fact that.

It is built like this:

• unatoč = despite
• tome = that, in the dative case
• što = that / the fact that

So the whole phrase introduces a contrast:

• Unatoč tome što smo propustili povezani let...
• Despite the fact that we missed the connecting flight...

A very common simpler alternative is iako, meaning although / even though:

• Iako smo propustili povezani let, predana prtljaga je stigla.

Both are correct, but unatoč tome što sounds a bit more formal or heavier than iako.

Why is it tome and not to after unatoč?

Because unatoč requires the dative case.

The pronoun to changes to tome in the dative singular:

• nominative: to
• dative: tome

So:

• unatoč kiši = despite the rain
• unatoč problemima = despite the problems
• unatoč tome što... = despite the fact that...

This is something you simply have to learn with the preposition: unatoč + dative.