German word

währenddessen

Pronunciation

IPA/vɛːʁəntˈdɛsn̩/

Meaning

  • adverbmeanwhile

Example

Ich bereite das Essen zu, und währenddessen spielt das Kind im Zimmer.

I am preparing the food, and meanwhile the child is playing in the room.

Illustration for währenddessen (meanwhile)

More examples

Das Team feierte den Erfolg, währenddessen analysierte die Konkurrenz die Daten.

The team celebrated the success; meanwhile, the competition analyzed the data.

Core concept

One action continues while another previously mentioned action happens at the same time.

Common phrases

  • währenddessen notierte

    meanwhile, noted

  • währenddessen diskutierten

    meanwhile, discussed

Similar words

inzwischen: Shows that something else happens during the time already mentioned.
mittlerweile: Shows that another event unfolds as time passes.
unterdessen: Marks another action continuing while an earlier event takes place.
dabei: Shows that another event happens while an action is underway.

Definition in German

Sich auf eine bereits erwähnte Handlung bezieht und bedeutet, dass etwas in derselben Zeit stattfindet

Word origin

Währenddessen combines während, 'during', with dessen, the genitive form of the demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that', forming an adverb meaning 'during that time'.

Usage tips

  • As an adverb, währenddessen can stand at the start of a main clause, followed by normal verb-second word order: Währenddessen spielt das Kind.

Other meanings

  • at the same timeadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word