a pesar devspese a
/ah peh-SAR deh/
/PEH-seh ah/
💡 Quick Rule
They mean the same thing ('in spite of'). 'Pese a' is just a shorter, slightly more formal version.
Think: 'Pese a' has 'less' words and sounds a bit more 'posh'.
- No real exceptions. They are almost always interchangeable. 'A pesar de que' is slightly more common than 'pese a que' when followed by a full sentence.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | a pesar de | pese a | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday Conversation | Voy a la fiesta a pesar del cansancio. | Voy a la fiesta pese al cansancio. | Both are correct, but 'a pesar de' is more common and natural in casual speech. |
| Formal Writing / News | A pesar de la crisis económica, la empresa creció. | Pese a la crisis económica, la empresa creció. | Both are correct, but 'pese a' sounds more concise and is very common in journalism and formal reports. |
| Followed by a Verb | Aprobó a pesar de estudiar poco. | Aprobó pese a estudiar poco. | The meaning is identical. They are perfectly interchangeable before an infinitive verb. |
✅ When to Use "a pesar de" / pese a
a pesar de
In spite of, despite. The most common way to introduce an obstacle or a contrast.
/ah peh-SAR deh/
With a noun
Salimos a caminar a pesar de la lluvia.
We went for a walk in spite of the rain.
With an infinitive verb
Lo logró a pesar de no tener experiencia.
He achieved it despite not having any experience.
With 'que' + a full sentence
A pesar de que estudió mucho, no aprobó.
Even though he studied a lot, he didn't pass.
pese a
In spite of, despite. A more concise and slightly more formal synonym for 'a pesar de'.
/PEH-seh ah/
With a noun (more formal)
Continuaron la reunión pese a las interrupciones.
They continued the meeting despite the interruptions.
With an infinitive verb (more formal)
Pese a tener miedo, saltó del avión.
Despite being scared, he jumped from the plane.
With 'que' + a full sentence (less common)
Pese a que se lo advertí, lo hizo igual.
Even though I warned him, he did it anyway.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "a pesar de":
A pesar de todo, te sigo queriendo.
In spite of everything, I still love you.
With "pese a":
Pese a todo, te sigo queriendo.
Despite everything, I still love you.
The Difference: The meaning is exactly the same. 'A pesar de' sounds slightly more conversational and common, while 'pese a' is a bit more literary or formal. Both are perfectly understood.
With "a pesar de":
El informe fue aprobado a pesar de las objeciones.
The report was approved in spite of the objections.
With "pese a":
El informe fue aprobado pese a las objeciones.
The report was approved despite the objections.
The Difference: Again, the meaning is identical. In this formal context, 'pese a' is very common because it's more concise and sounds more official.
🎨 Visual Comparison
A person choosing between two identical paths leading to the same place, one path sign is casual, the other is formal.
'A pesar de' and 'pese a' are two paths to the same meaning. 'Pese a' is just the slightly more formal route.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
A pesar de yo estaba cansado, fui a la fiesta.
A pesar de estar cansado, fui a la fiesta.
After 'a pesar de', you can use a noun or an infinitive verb (like 'estar'). If you want to use a full conjugated sentence ('yo estaba'), you must add 'que': 'A pesar de que yo estaba cansado...'
Pese al mal tiempo, pero salimos.
Pese al mal tiempo, salimos.
'Pese a' already creates the contrast, like 'in spite of'. Adding 'pero' (but) is redundant and incorrect.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: A pesar de vs Pese a
Question 1 of 2
'Pese a' is generally considered slightly more ___ than 'a pesar de'.
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'a pesar de' and 'pese a' ever NOT interchangeable?
In 99% of cases, they are perfectly interchangeable. The only real difference is style and formality. 'A pesar de' is more common in everyday speech. If you're ever in doubt, just use 'a pesar de' and you will always be correct.
What's the difference between 'a pesar de' and 'aunque'?
They are very similar! 'A pesar de' (in spite of) must be followed by a noun or an infinitive verb. 'Aunque' (although/even though) must be followed by a full sentence with a conjugated verb. For example: 'A pesar de la lluvia...' vs. 'Aunque llovía...'