Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche. - Although I am tired, I still study Spanish tonight.

Aunque introduces a subordinate clause that expresses a contrast or concession (I am tired).
Pero means “but” and connects two main clauses:

Estoy cansado, pero estudio español esta noche.
I’m tired, but I’m studying Spanish tonight.

Both are correct, but:

Aunque = although / even though (more tightly links the idea of contrast inside one sentence structure).
Pero = but (joins two separate statements more loosely).

Why is it “estoy cansado” and not “soy cansado”?

Spanish uses estar for temporary states or conditions, and ser for more permanent characteristics or identities.

Estoy cansado = I am (feeling) tired right now / today (temporary state).
Soy cansado is very unusual and would sound like “I am a tired person by nature”, almost like a personality trait. Most native speakers simply don’t say this.

So here estoy is correct because being tired is a current condition, not a permanent characteristic.

Why is there a comma after “cansado”? Is it required?

Yes, that comma is standard and recommended.

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.

Aunque estoy cansado is a subordinate clause placed before the main clause (igual estudio español esta noche). In Spanish, when a subordinate clause comes first, you normally put a comma before the main clause.

If you flip the sentence, you usually drop the comma:

Igual estudio español esta noche aunque estoy cansado.
(No comma needed here.)

What does “igual” mean in this sentence?

Here igual is an adverb meaning something like:

“still”
“anyway”
“even so / even then”

So:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.
Although I’m tired, I’ll still study Spanish tonight / I’m going to study anyway tonight.

This is very common in Latin American informal speech, especially in countries like Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. It’s different from igual meaning “equal / the same” in other contexts.

How is this “igual” different from words like “mismo” or “igual que”?

In this sentence, igual is an adverb of concession (“still / anyway”), not about equality.

Other uses:

igual = equal / the same (adjective):
- Somos iguales. – We are equal / the same.
- Tienen sueldos iguales. – They have equal salaries.
igual que = the same as:
- Habla español igual que su madre. – He speaks Spanish just like his mother.
mismo = same (often with nouns or pronouns):
- El mismo libro. – The same book.
- Yo mismo lo hice. – I did it myself.

In your sentence, igual does not mean “equal” or “the same”; it means “anyway / still”.

Could I say “todavía estudio español” or “aun así estudio español” instead of “igual estudio español”?

Yes, those are good alternatives with a similar meaning:

Aunque estoy cansado, todavía estudio español esta noche.
(Although I’m tired, I still study Spanish tonight.)
Aunque estoy cansado, aun así estudio español esta noche.
(Although I’m tired, even so I’m studying Spanish tonight.)

Differences in feel:

igual (in this sense) is very colloquial and common in everyday Latin American speech.
todavía = still (more neutral and widely used).
aun así = “even so / despite that” (slightly more formal or careful speech).

All are understandable almost everywhere; the choice mainly affects tone/level of formality.

Why is it “estudio” (present tense) if it’s talking about tonight, which is in the future?

Spanish often uses the simple present to talk about near or planned future actions, especially when a time expression makes the future meaning clear:

Estudio español esta noche. – I’m studying Spanish tonight.
Mañana voy al médico. – I’m going to the doctor tomorrow.
La semana que viene viajamos. – We’re traveling next week.

So estudio here is a present with future meaning, similar to English “I’m studying” or “I study” tonight.

You could also say:

…igual estudiaré español esta noche. (future tense)
This is correct but can sound a bit more formal or less spontaneous.

Why is “yo” not written? Could I say “yo estudio español”?

In Spanish, subject pronouns like yo are often dropped, because the verb ending already shows who the subject is:

estudio → clearly means “I study”.

So:

Igual estudio español esta noche. = perfectly natural.
Yo igual estudio español esta noche. = also correct, but adds emphasis on I.

Using yo can imply contrast, like:

Aunque estoy cansado, yo igual estudio español esta noche (y otros no).
Although I’m tired, I still study Spanish tonight (even if others don’t).

Without context, most native speakers would leave yo out here.

What’s the difference between “aunque estoy cansado” and “aunque esté cansado”?

Both are possible, but they express slightly different nuances:

Aunque estoy cansado (indicative):
- The speaker presents being tired as a real, known fact.
- Meaning: Even though I am (indeed) tired…
Aunque esté cansado (subjunctive):
- The tiredness is hypothetical, uncertain, or not the focus as a fact.
- Meaning: Even if I (might / end up) being tired…

In your context, where the speaker knows they are tired right now, “aunque estoy cansado” (indicative) is the natural choice.

Can “igual” be placed somewhere else, like at the beginning or end of the sentence?

Yes. Its position is flexible, and word order changes the rhythm and emphasis, but not the basic meaning.

Some options:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.
Igual estudio español esta noche, aunque estoy cansado.
Aunque estoy cansado, estudio igual español esta noche. (less common / a bit awkward)

Most natural in everyday speech:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.
Igual estudio español esta noche aunque estoy cansado.

Putting igual right before the verb (igual estudio) is the most typical colloquial pattern for the meaning “still / anyway”.

Could I change the word order to “Esta noche estudio español” or “Estudio español esta noche”? Is there a difference?

Yes, both are correct; Spanish word order is flexible:

Esta noche estudio español. – Tonight I study Spanish.
(Emphasis: tonight.)
Estudio español esta noche. – I study Spanish tonight.
(More neutral; emphasis on the action.)

In your sentence with aunque:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche. (neutral)
Aunque estoy cansado, igual esta noche estudio español. (slight focus on tonight.)

All of these are natural; the choice is about what you want to emphasize.

Why is it “cansado” and not “cansada”? How does gender work here?

Cansado/cansada must agree with the gender of the person speaking:

A man: Estoy cansado.
A woman: Estoy cansada.

The sentence:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.

implicitly assumes the speaker is male.
If a woman were speaking, she would say:

Aunque estoy cansada, igual estudio español esta noche.

Is this sentence natural in Latin American Spanish? Are there other very natural ways to say the same thing?

Yes, it’s very natural, especially in informal speech:

Aunque estoy cansado, igual estudio español esta noche.

Other common Latin American variants with basically the same meaning:

Aunque estoy cansado, voy a estudiar español esta noche.
Aunque estoy cansado, todavía voy a estudiar español esta noche.
Aunque estoy cansado, de todas formas voy a estudiar español esta noche.
Aunque estoy cansado, igual voy a estudiar español esta noche. (igual
- voy a)

All of these sound normal; the original one is just a bit more colloquial thanks to igual estudio….