Translation of Spanish word "mientras" to English
mientras
/ˈmjen.tɾas/
Meaning
ConjunctionDuring the same time that.
How to use
Mientras is a versatile conjunction used to express simultaneous actions or conditions. It is commonly employed in formal and informal writing, as well as in spoken language. However, learners often confuse it with the imperfect tense, which is used to describe ongoing actions in the past. For example, 'Estudiaba mientras veía la televisión' (I was studying while watching TV) is incorrect; the correct sentence would be 'Estudiaba mientras veía la televisión en el pasado' (I used to study while watching TV in the past).
🇬🇧 English
while
Example
Leeré mientras tú preparas la cena.
I will read while you cook dinner.
Dio conferencias durante bastante tiempo.
He gave lectures for quite some time.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- mientras tanto— in the meantime
- mientras dure— as long as
- mientras sea posible— as long as possible
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #257 in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish word "mientras" mean?▼
The Spanish word "mientras" means "while" in English.
How do you pronounce the Spanish word "mientras"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "mientras" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "mientras"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Leeré mientras tú preparas la cena." (which translates as "I will read while you cook dinner.").
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