The word “although” serves as a conjunction. It is primarily used to connect two clauses in a way that highlights a contrast or an exception between them. When you say, “Although it was raining, we decided to go for a hike,” you are using “although” to introduce the idea that the action of hiking occurs despite the adverse condition of rain.
In this context, “although” sets up a relationship where the second clause (the hike) is surprising given the information in the first clause (the rain). Understanding that “although” is a conjunction helps clarify how it functions within sentences and enhances your ability to create complex, nuanced statements.