Pur avendo poco tempo, rifinisco anche il beccuccio.

Although I have little time, I also refine the spout.

Breakdown of Pur avendo poco tempo, rifinisco anche il beccuccio.

• avere: to have
• anche: also
• il tempo: the time
• poco: little

Questions & Answers about Pur avendo poco tempo, rifinisco anche il beccuccio.

What does pur mean in Pur avendo poco tempo?

Here pur means although / even though / despite. It adds a concessive idea: something is true in spite of a difficulty.

So:

• Pur avendo poco tempo = Although I have little time
• more literally: Even having little time

This use of pur is a bit more literary or formal than everyday spoken Italian.

Why is it pur avendo and not pur avere?

Because after pur in this structure, Italian commonly uses the gerund:

• avendo = gerund of avere (having)

So pur avendo poco tempo literally means even having little time, but in natural English it is usually translated as although I have little time or despite having little time.

This is a very common Italian pattern for expressing concession:

• Pur sapendo la verità... = Although knowing the truth...
• Pur essendo stanco... = Although being tired...

Could I say Anche se ho poco tempo instead?