while

Weile, kurze Zeit

Ein kurzer Zeitraum.

In einfachem Englisch: A short period of time.

• Please wait a while.
• We rested for a little while before walking again.
• After a while, the rain stopped.

Synonyme: moment, short time

Häufige Wendungen: a little while, a short while, after a while, wait a while

Weile, Zeitspanne

Ein Zeitraum, dessen genaue Länge nicht angegeben wird.

In einfachem Englisch: A period of time whose length is not stated exactly.

• We stayed there for a while.
• It took quite a while to fix the engine.
• I haven't seen her for a long while.

Synonyme: period, time, spell

Häufige Wendungen: a long while, quite a while, for a while, a good while

während

Zeigt, dass etwas in der Zeit geschieht, in der etwas anderes stattfindet.

In einfachem Englisch: During the time that something else happens.

• I listened while she spoke.
• Can you watch the children while I cook?
• He called while we were having dinner.

So benutzt man es: while + clause (I read while my sister cooked.)

Synonyme: as

Häufige Wendungen: while someone sleeps, while someone waits, while someone works

obwohl, wenngleich

Räumt eine Tatsache ein, bevor etwas genannt wird, das sie einschränkt oder im Gegensatz dazu steht.

In einfachem Englisch: Used to admit one fact before saying something that limits or contrasts with it.

• While it's expensive, it's very useful.
• The room, while small, has plenty of light.
• While I liked the story, I found the ending weak.

So benutzt man es: while + clause, clause (While I understand your reasons, I disagree.); while + adjective (The plan, while simple, will cost too much.)

Synonyme: although, though, even though

Häufige Wendungen: while I agree, while it is, while admitting something

während, bei

Zeigt, dass etwas während einer gleichzeitig ausgeübten Tätigkeit geschieht.

In einfachem Englisch: During an activity that is happening at the same time.

• Don't text while driving.
• She fell asleep while watching a film.
• I met him while working in a cafe.

So benutzt man es: while + -ing (She hurt her ankle while running.)

Synonyme: during

Häufige Wendungen: while doing something, while waiting, while driving, while eating

vertreiben, verbringen

Die Zeit angenehm mit etwas verbringen, das wenig Anstrengung erfordert.

In einfachem Englisch: To spend time pleasantly doing something that does not require much effort.

• We whiled away the evening talking.
• She likes to while away Sundays in the garden.
• They whiled away the hours with a board game.

So benutzt man es: while away something + -ing (We whiled away the afternoon playing cards.)

Synonyme: pass, spend

Häufige Wendungen: while away time, while away hours, while away afternoons