different between however vs also

English

Etymology

From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere, equivalent to how +? ever. Compare also Middle English how-as-evere and howsoevere, how-so-evere (“howsoever”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /h????v?/
• (US) enPR: hou?v??r, IPA^(key): /ha???v?/
• (NYC) IPA^(key): /h?w?v?/
• Rhymes: -?v?(r)
• Hyphenation: how?ev?er

Adverb

however (not comparable)

1. Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of (that).

   She wanted to go; however, she decided against it.
2. (degree) To whatever degree or extent
3. (manner) In whatever way or manner.
4. An emphatic form of how.

   However were you able to do it?

5. (obsolete) In any case, at any rate, at all events.
   • c. 1680, John Tillotson:

     Our chief end and highest interest is happiness : And this is happiness to be freed from all (if it may) [or] however from the greatest evils.

Synonyms

• (nevertheless): nonetheless, notwithstanding, that said, still and all; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless
• (to whatever degree): ad lib, howsoever, howso
• (emphatic howin whatever manner): anyhow, howsoever, howso
• (emphatic how): how + the dickens (see Thesaurus:the dickens)
• (in any case): after all, anyway; see also Thesaurus:regardless

Translations

Conjunction

however

1. In whatever way or manner.

   she offered to help however she could

2. (proscribed) Although, though, but, yet.

Usage notes

• Both conjunctive uses of "however" are identical to adverbial uses except in punctuation (when written) and in prosody (when spoken). Hence, the following proscribed sentence:

  is equivalent to the following accepted one:

  which can also be written in two sentences::

  they are functionally equivalent to:

  • He told me not to do it, but I did it.
• In particular, when used as a conjunction in this sense, however always appears between the clauses it connects; it does not introduce a subordinate clause that can be moved to the start of an independent clause, but simply coordinates two independent clauses.

References

• however in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• “however” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• "however (degree)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
• "however (despite)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
• "however (way)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
• “however”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• Oxford English Dictionary, second edition (1989)
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary (1987-1996)

Anagrams

• everwho, whoever

English

Etymology

From Middle English also, alswo, alswa (also als(e), as, whence English as), from Old English ealsw?, eallsw? (“completely so, additionally, just as, just so, even as, even so, as, as if, so, so as, likewise, also; likewise, in just the same way”), equivalent to all +? so. Cognate with Scots alsa, alswa (“also, even so, in the same way, as, as well”), Saterland Frisian also (“accordingly, therefore, thus”), West Frisian alsa (“so, just so, even so, thus”), Old Saxon als? (“similarly, as if, just as, when”), Dutch alzo (“so, thus”), German also (“so, thus”), Danish altså (“so”), Norwegian Bokmål altså (“so, therefore, accordingly, thus”), Norwegian Nynorsk altso (“so, accordingly, therefore, thus”), Swedish alltså (“so, therefore, accordingly, thus, then”). See all, so, as.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???l.s??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.so?/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /??l.so?/
• Hyphenation: al?so

Adverb

also (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive, focus) In addition; besides; as well; further; too. [from 14^th c.]
   • 1905, Bertrand Russell, On Denoting

     The subject of denoting is of very great importance, not only in logic and mathematics, but also in the theory of knowledge.

   • Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; […].
2. (obsolete) To the same degree or extent; so, as. [14^th-15^th c.]
   • c. 1709, John Strype, Annals of the Reformation and Establishment of Religion

     […] thereupon the queen's majesty […] did send a solemn ambassade of her privy-counsellors, whereof one was an ancient earl of the realm, the other also an ancient baron of the same, and others of the council of her state […]

Synonyms

• too
• eke
• as well

Usage notes

The adverb also can go in various places within a sentence, with minimal change of meaning.

Translations

Anagrams

• ASLO, LAOS, LOAs, Laos, Loas, Salo, loas, salo, soal, sola

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??alzo?/

Conjunction

also (coordinating)

1. so, therefore

Adverb

also

1. then (Used to connect a sentence with previous information.)

2. Used to introduce additional information about something previously mentioned.

3. (dated) thus
   • 1883 - 1885, Nietzsche, Friedrich, Also sprach Zarathustra, (title):

Interjection

also

1. alright (Indicates agreement with something.)

2. so (Used as a lead-in or to start a new topic.)

3. Used to resume an interrupted train of thought.

4. An intensifier, indicates an emotional connection to the statement.

Derived terms

• na also

Further reading

• “also” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Luxembourgish

Etymology

From German also.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?alzo/, [??lzo]

Adverb

also

1. so
2. thus, therefore

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch als?, from al + s?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?al?zo?/

Adverb

alsô

1. so, thus
2. also, to the same degree

Related terms

• alse

Descendants

• Dutch: alzo

Further reading

• “also (I)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “also (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929) , “also (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, ?ISBN, page I
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929) , “also (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, ?ISBN, page II

Old Dutch

Etymology

From al +? s?.

Adverb

also

1. so, thus
2. so, to that degree
3. therefore

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: also
  • Dutch: alzo

Further reading

• “als? (I)”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Conjunction

als?

1. as, like
2. as if
3. when
4. because
5. so that

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: alse
  • Dutch: als

Further reading

• “als? (II)”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Saterland Frisian

Adverb

also

1. so; thus; therefore; accordingly
2. for that reason; hence

Tagalog

Noun

also

1. silver-spotted gray snapper (Lutianus argentimaculatus)

Volapük

Adverb

also

1. so
2. thus