Quoique or quoi que? Choose between although and whatever

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Compare quoique and quoi que with a short debate, clear replacement tests and four questions on spelling, meaning and subjunctive forms.

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In short

Quoique means although: Quoique ce soit difficile, nous continuons. Write quoi que for whatever or no matter what: Quoi que tu décides, je te soutiendrai. Both constructions take the subjunctive in these examples, so meaning decides the spelling.

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Two women discuss an idea at a French café table with plain closed notebooks.
Quoi que tu choisisses leaves the example open. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between quoique and quoi que?

quoiquealthough

Focus: You accept a fact, then give a contrasting point.

quoique + subject + subjunctive

Quoique le texte soit court, il est difficile.
Although the text is short, it is difficult.

Quoiqu’elle soit occupée, elle nous aide.
Although she is busy, she helps us.

quoi quewhatever; no matter what

Focus: The thing someone does, says or chooses stays open.

quoi que + subject + subjunctive

Quoi que tu dises, elle voudra des exemples.
Whatever you say, she will want examples.

Quoi qu’elle fasse, elle prend des notes.
Whatever she does, she takes notes.

Try bien que for although: Bien que le texte soit court… Try peu importe ce que for whatever: Peu importe ce que tu dis… In the second case, quoi supplies the thing said. That is why it remains a separate word.

Two friends preparing a debate

Un argument à préciser
  1. Lina

    Quoique ton idée soit intéressante, il manque un exemple.

    Although your idea is interesting, it needs an example.

  2. Nora

    Je peux parler de mon expérience au travail.

    I can talk about my experience at work.

  3. Lina

    Oui. Quoi que tu choisisses, explique bien le lien avec ton idée.

    Yes. Whatever you choose, explain the link to your idea clearly.

  4. Nora

    D’accord. Je vais ajouter un exemple précis.

    All right. I’ll add a specific example.

Lina first accepts that the idea is interesting. Her second sentence leaves Nora free to choose an example. Changing the spelling changes that relationship; the two expressions sound the same.

An apostrophe keeps the distinction

Watch the space before the apostrophe
FrenchMeaning
Quoiqu’il soit fatigué, il continue.Although he is tired, he carries on.
Quoi qu’il dise, je l’écouterai.Whatever he says, I will listen to him.

Before il or elle, the conjunction becomes quoiqu’. In the two-word expression, only que becomes qu’: the space after quoi stays. Learn the full pairs quoiqu’elle soit and quoi qu’elle fasse.

Question 1No account needed
Choose although.___ la tâche soit difficile, nous avançons.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Quoique. Quoique introduces an accepted difficulty. Bien que would give the same relationship.

Question 2No account needed
Choose whatever.___ tu choisisses, explique ton choix.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Quoi que. The choice stays open: quoi is the object of choisisses, so it is a separate word.

Question 3No account needed
Which spelling means although she is busy?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Quoiqu’elle soit occupée…. For although, use the single conjunction quoique, elided here before elle.

Question 4No account needed
Does a subjunctive form settle the spelling?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

No: both constructions use it here.. Both soit and choisisses are subjunctive forms. Choose the spelling from the meaning.

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