All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| während | while; whereas; during | simultaneous events; contrast; a named time period | conjunction: final verb; preposition: generally genitive |
| währenddessen | meanwhile; during that time | a second action during an already mentioned period | adverb; unchanged; main-clause verb-second order |
während
Meaning and usage: As a conjunction, während connects events happening at the same time. It can also contrast two situations without focusing on simultaneity, like English “whereas.” As a preposition, it places an event within a named time period. Decide whether a clause or noun phrase follows.
Grammar: Conjunction: während ich arbeite, with the conjugated verb at the end. A comma separates the clauses. Preposition: usually genitive, as in während des Kurses. Dative is common colloquially and is also standard in some constructions where a plural genitive is not identifiable, such as während Gesprächen.
Während ich koche, deckt Jana den Tisch.
While I cook, Jana sets the table.
Während des Kurses bleibt mein Handy in der Tasche.
During the course, my phone stays in my bag.
Ich trinke Kaffee, während mein Bruder Tee bevorzugt.
I drink coffee, whereas my brother prefers tea.
währenddessen
Meaning and usage: Währenddessen points back to the time occupied by another event. It lets you describe a simultaneous action in a separate sentence. The ordinary adverb does not attach a new “while” clause by itself. Duden separately records an aging colloquial conjunction use; it is not the model for neutral learner writing.
Grammar: Adverb: no inflection or case requirement. At the start of a declarative main clause, it takes the first position and the conjugated verb follows: Währenddessen liest … . Write this adverb as one word. Separate während dessen can be a preposition plus relative pronoun.
Jana kocht. Währenddessen decke ich den Tisch.
Jana is cooking. Meanwhile, I set the table.
Ich warte vor der Tür und lese währenddessen meine Nachrichten.
I wait outside the door and read my messages meanwhile.
Overlap and context
Während Jana kocht, decke ich den Tisch and Jana kocht. Währenddessen decke ich den Tisch describe the same situation with different syntax. In der Zeitraum, während dessen wir dort waren, dessen refers to Zeitraum; that construction is written separately. It is not the one-word adverb. For most everyday writing, use the conjunction während or the adverb währenddessen according to your sentence structure.
Common mistakes
- Do not write Währenddessen ich koche … as your neutral learner pattern; use Während ich koche … .
- Do not keep subject-before-verb after an initial adverb: Währenddessen decke ich … .
- Do not assume während only means temporal “while”; it also expresses contrast.
- Do not merge the relative construction während dessen into the adverb.
Memory aid: Während starts “while this happens”; währenddessen looks back: “during that time.”
Try it
Reorder correctly: Währenddessen / ich / lerne / Deutsch.
Show the answer
Währenddessen lerne ich Deutsch.
The adverb occupies the first position; the conjugated verb remains second in the main clause.