mientras tanto
Lemma Details
Translation: meanwhile; in the meantime; in the interim
Part of Speech: adverbial phrase
Etymology: Composed of 'mientras' (while, during) and 'tanto' (so much, as much). 'Mientras' derives from Latin 'dum interim' (while in the meantime), which evolved to Old Spanish 'demientras' and then to modern 'mientras'. 'Tanto' comes from Latin 'tantus' (so great, so much). The combination creates a temporal expression indicating simultaneity of actions.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Tú prepara la cena; yo, mientras tanto, pondré la mesa.
You prepare dinner; meanwhile, I'll set the table.
Vamos a tener que esperar. Mientras tanto, podemos tomar un café.
We're going to have to wait. In the meantime, we can have a coffee.
El médico tardará en llegar. Mientras tanto, mantén la calma.
The doctor will take time to arrive. In the interim, stay calm.
Mnemonics
- 'Mientras' sounds a bit like 'mean-trace' and 'tanto' like 'time-to' – so think 'mean-trace time-to' as a way to remember it means 'in the meantime'
- Think of 'mientras' as 'while' and 'tanto' as 'so much' – so it's literally 'while so much', meaning things happening during another action
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is widely used in everyday Spanish conversation and writing to indicate that something is happening simultaneously with something else, or during a period of waiting. It's a standard transitional phrase in narratives.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Mientras' alone means 'while' and is typically used as a conjunction to connect two simultaneous actions, whereas 'mientras tanto' is an adverbial phrase meaning 'meanwhile' or 'in the meantime'.
This word:
Él cocinaba. Yo, mientras tanto, leía un libro.
He was cooking. Meanwhile, I was reading a book.
Notes: 'Mientras' connects clauses directly, while 'mientras tanto' often appears with a semicolon or period separating the clauses, or at the beginning of a new sentence.
Mnemonic: 'Mientras tanto' has the extra 'tanto' (so much) which adds emphasis on the time passing – it's not just 'while' but 'during that whole time'.
Explanation: 'Entretanto' is a single word that means essentially the same thing as 'mientras tanto', but is slightly more formal or literary.
Notes: These can be used interchangeably in most contexts, though 'mientras tanto' is more common in everyday speech.
Mnemonic: Think of 'entretanto' as the more compact, formal version, while 'mientras tanto' is the more conversational, everyday phrase.