Breakdown of Пусть щенок неуклюжий, но он очаровательный и милый.
и
and
он
he / it (for a masculine noun) / it (for a neuter noun)
но
but
милый
nice, sweet, dear
Questions & Answers about Пусть щенок неуклюжий, но он очаровательный и милый.
I usually translate пусть as 'let' (like 'let him go'). How does it mean 'even if' here?
In this structure, when пусть introduces a clause and the second clause starts with но (but) or всё же (still), it creates a concessive meaning. Instead of a command, it means 'granted that' or 'even if.' You are conceding a fact (the puppy is clumsy) to emphasize the contrast that follows.
Could I use хотя (although) instead of пусть in this sentence?
Yes, you could say хотя щенок неуклюжий, но... meaning 'Although the puppy is clumsy, he is still...'. However, пусть gives a slightly different rhetorical flavor. It sounds like you are actively conceding a point to someone: 'Alright, I'll give you that he is clumsy, but...'
Why is there no verb like будет (will be) or есть (is) after пусть here?
Because this isn't a command or a wish for the future. It's a standard present-tense statement (щенок неуклюжий = the puppy is clumsy) where the present tense of 'to be' is naturally omitted. Пусть simply attaches to the front of this verbless clause to mean 'Granted that the puppy is clumsy...'
Are очаровательный and милый just synonyms for 'cute'?