German word

unterdessen

Pronunciation

IPA/ʊntɐˈdɛsn̩/

Meaning

  • adverbmeanwhile

Example

Die Mannschaft trainiert hart; unterdessen plant der Trainer die Taktik.

The team is training hard; meanwhile, the coach is planning the strategy.

Illustration for unterdessen (meanwhile)

More examples

Er lernt für die Prüfung; unterdessen zu Hause liest seine Schwester ein Buch.

He is studying for the exam; meanwhile, at home, his sister is reading a book.

Core concept

Two timelines run side by side: one activity continues while a separate event unfolds during the same interval.

Common phrases

  • unterdessen zu Hause

    meanwhile at home

  • unterdessen schon

    meanwhile already

Similar words

inzwischen: Over time, a new situation or result has emerged by then.
mittlerweile: After some time, the current state differs from the earlier state.
währenddessen: While that happens, another event occurs at the same time.
zwischendurch: An activity occurs briefly in the interval between larger events.

Definition in German

Anzeigt, dass etwas parallel zu einer anderen Handlung geschieht; bedeutet ‚in der Zwischenzeit‘.

Word origin

The adverb developed from the German elements "unter" and "dessen", with "dessen" being the genitive form of a demonstrative pronoun; together they expressed "during that time".

Usage tips

  • As an adverb, "unterdessen" does not introduce a subordinate clause, so an initial use leaves the finite verb in the second position.

Opposites

Word lists with this word