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You've probably wondered how many homophones in Spanish there are and how to learn to differentiate between them. One of the most common among native speakers and students of the language is sobre todo and sobretodo. Both words sound the same, but their meaning and usage are very different.
If you want to know the difference between sobre todo and sobretodo in Spanish, you've come to the right place. It's important to know how to write correctly in Spanish to avoid common mistakes and continue on your path to learning Spanish in Spain.
What does sobre todo mean?
Of these two words, the most common is sobre todo. Sobre todo is an adverbial phrase that means mainly, especially, or above all. It is used to highlight something within a group or to express priority. Here are some examples:
- Me gusta ir al cine, sobre todo a ver películas de acción (I like going to the movies, especially to see action movies)
- Debes cuidar tu salud, sobre todo en invierno (You should take care of your health, especially in winter)
- Lo que más valoro, sobre todo, es la sinceridad (What I value most, above all, is sincerity)
What does sobretodo mean in Spanish?
Sobretodo is a masculine noun, not as common as the phrase, which refers to a long, thick garment worn over clothing to protect against the cold or rain. Therefore, sobretodo is synonymous with coat, raincoat, or overcoat. Examples:
- Me puse el sobretodo porque hacía mucho frío (I put on my overcoat because it was very cold)
- En invierno siempre llevo un sobretodo de lana (In winter I always wear a woolen overcoat)
- Colgó su sobretodo en el perchero al entrar (He hung his overcoat on the coat rack when he came in)
Differences between sobretodo and sobre todo
Although sobre todo and sobretodo are homophones, meaning they sound the same, they have different grammatical functions and meanings, as you can see from their definitions. Below are some key differences to help you learn when to use each one in your writing.
Sobretodo is a noun that refers to garment worn over other clothes. For example: Se puso el sobretodo antes de salir (He put on his coat before leaving).
Meanwhile, sobre todo is an adverbial phrase, meaning ‘mainly’ or ‘especially’. For example: Me gustan los colores claros, sobre todo el blanco (I like light colors, especially white).
Remember that if you can replace sobre todo with ‘principalmente’ (mainly) or ‘especialmente’ (especially), then it is written separately. But if the text refers to ‘abrigo’ (coat) or ‘gabardina’ (raincoat), then it should be written together.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
One of the most frequent mistakes among Spanish learners is to always write the word sobretodo together when they want to use the phrase sobre todo.
Why does this happen? Because both words sound the same, but only one (the adverbial phrase) is used very frequently in everyday speech and written texts.
How can you avoid this mistake? Very simple: think about the meaning of the phrase.
- If you are talking about clothing, write sobretodo
- Try substituting the words: if you can say principalmente, then it is sobre todo. If you can say abrigo, then it is sobretodo.
- Sobretodo (written together) is a physical object; sobre todo (written separately) is an expression used to give emphasis or priority
