gleichwohl

"gleichwohl" (formal contrast)

"gleichwohl" means the same as "dennoch/trotzdem" (nevertheless), but belongs to elevated, written language (newspapers, essays, official texts). It too is an adverb → verb in position 2.

Note:

• Meaning = contrast ("trotzdem"), but more formal and rarer.
• Stands at the start of the clause: Gleichwohl fand man eine Lösung.
• In everyday speech it quickly sounds stilted – use it mainly in texts.

Common mistakes

• ❌ …, gleichwohl man fand eine Lösung. → ✅ …, gleichwohl fand man eine Lösung. (adverb → verb in position 2).
• ❌ using "gleichwohl" in casual conversation → prefer "trotzdem" (mind the register).

Examples:

• Die Lage war schwierig, gleichwohl fand man eine Lösung. (The situation was difficult; nevertheless, a solution was found.)
• Der Plan war riskant; gleichwohl wurde er umgesetzt. (The plan was risky; it was implemented nonetheless.)
• Die Kritik war hart. Gleichwohl blieb er bei seiner Meinung. (The criticism was harsh. Even so, he stuck to his opinion.)