Differences between "aun", "hasta", and "incluso" to indicate extremes?

Question

When referring to an extreme example for comparison, English seems to have just one word, even:

Even an idiot could do it.

But Spanish seems to have three:

I had always used aun for this but then realized it wasn't the only possibility, such as in the old Shakira song, Octavo Día:

Hasta un ciego lo puede ver (Even a blind man could see it)

Does the choice of which to use depend on grammar or nuance, or is it purely up to the speaker's preference?

hippietrail · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-12 13:22:59Z

8

The three of them are correct as the RAE entry for incluso says:

incluso, sa.

(Del lat. inclūsus).

prep. Hasta, aun. Incluso a los enemigos amó. U. t. c. conj.

So they are synonyms. So you can say:

Hasta un idiota podría hacerlo

Incluso un idiota podría hacerlo

Aun un idiota podría hacerlo

No grammar rules apply, you can use any of them. All of them are used very often.

hippietrail

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answered Dec 12, 2011 at 12:37

Juanillo

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So I can always use all three in all cases, not just in my simplistic example? There are no instances where one would work better than the other two?
– hippietrail
Dec 12, 2011 at 13:23
4

"Hasta" and "Incluso" are more used than "aun" (for this kind of sentences) in my opinion, at least in Spain. But as they mean exactly the same so you can use any of them always.
– Juanillo
Dec 12, 2011 at 14:05

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razlebe · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-15 10:35:35Z

5

They are synonyms, however I'd say "hasta" is much more commonly used in hyperbole phrases. Thus:

Note, that you could switch them around and it would be still correct and understood. Only less commonly used.

razlebe

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answered Dec 12, 2011 at 13:26

vartec

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