although

• altho (informal)
• altho'
• allthough (obsolete)

From Middle English althagh, from Old English compound of eall (“all (emphatic)”) + þēah (“though”)

• enPR: ôl-thōʹ
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɔːlˈðəʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɔlˈðoʊ/, IPA^(key): /ɑlˈðoʊ/ (for speakers with cot–caught merger)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊ

although

1. Though, even though, in spite of or despite the fact that: introducing a clause that expresses a concession.

   Although it was very muddy, the football game went on.

   • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:

     Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess‎:

     The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. […] The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.

   • 2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3-1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport:

     With the north London derby to come at the weekend, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp opted to rest many of his key players, although he brought back Aaron Lennon after a month out through injury.

   • 2012 March 1, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, page 128:

     Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade.

2. But, except.

   It was difficult, although not as difficult as we had expected.

• When conjunctions, the words "although" and "though" are generally interchangeable:

  Although she smiled, she was angry. = Though she smiled, she was angry.

• "Although" is usually placed at the beginning of its clause, whereas "though" may occur elsewhere and is the more common term when used to link words or phrases (as in "wiser though poorer"). In certain constructions, only "though" is acceptable:

  Fond though I am of sports, I'd rather not sit through another basketball game.

• (in spite of): notwithstanding (that), even if, albeit (that), even though

• though
• even though

• while
• albeit