"Bien qu'il soit pauvre, il est heureux."

Translation: Even though he is poor, he is happy.

[Sitesurf]

The "o" sound in "pauvre" should be pronounced like "coast", not "cost" (except in Marseilles, maybe)

[FrenchAddict7]

I don't get why we can't just use est instead of soit...

[impulsief]

Because of bien que... It is a conjunction which is using with subjunctive and which is about subjectivity

[robynbs]

Think of the translation this way, "Though he be poor, he is happy"

[FrenchAddict7]

Thanks :)

[arcusimpetus]

I'd imagine that bien que is an expression that triggers the subjunctive, like how "though" in archaic English triggers the subjunctive. Shakespere says: "Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak." (not "has no tongue")

[ReidHT]

And that is the most important thing ;)

[Wonderboy6]

Seems like theres no rule for when soit voie aie ends in either t or e