mientras
Wordform Details
Translation: whileasmeanwhile
Part of Speech: conjunction
Inflection Type:
invariableIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: while; as long as; whereas; during the time that
Part of Speech: conjunction
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'dum interim' meaning 'while in the meantime', which evolved to Old Spanish 'demientre' and eventually to 'mientras'. The Latin 'interim' is also the source of the English word 'interim', meaning 'in the meantime' or 'temporarily'. The evolution shows how temporal concepts are expressed across Romance languages, with Spanish preserving the sense of simultaneity from the original Latin construction.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'mientras' as 'mean-tras' where actions are happening 'tras' (behind/after) each other in the 'mean' time.
- Associate with 'meanwhile' in English, which shares a similar meaning and function.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Used frequently in everyday Spanish conversation and writing to express simultaneous actions or contrasting ideas. It's one of the fundamental temporal conjunctions that Spanish speakers use to structure narratives and explanations.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Mientras' indicates simultaneous actions or a period when something happens, whereas 'durante' specifically refers to 'during' a period of time and is a preposition rather than a conjunction.
Notes: 'Mientras' requires a verb after it, while 'durante' is followed by a noun.
Mnemonic: 'Mientras' connects two actions happening at the same time; 'durante' specifies a duration.
Explanation: 'Mientras' indicates time or simultaneity, whereas 'aunque' expresses contrast or concession (meaning 'although' or 'even though').
Notes: Both can introduce subordinate clauses, but with different logical relationships to the main clause.
Mnemonic: Think of 'mientras' for time relationships and 'aunque' for contrasting ideas.