mientras

Spanish

Alternative forms

• mientre, mientra (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Spanish mientras (already sparsely attested in the 13th century), mientra, from an older demientre, domientre, which was influenced by the preposition de and adverbial -s (compare antes, entonces, quizás and Old Spanish nunquas), inherited from Late Latin dum interim. 13th-century Old Spanish generally uses demientre or mientra, but the form mientras gained greater currency in the following centuries.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmjentɾas/ [ˈmjẽn̪.t̪ɾas]
• Rhymes: -entɾas
• Syllabification: mien‧tras

Adverb

mientras

1. meanwhile

Derived terms

• mientras tanto

 

Conjunction

mientras

1. (with the indicative) while, whilst, as (at the same time as)

   Synonym: en cuanto

   Quédate aquí con los chicos mientras hablo con la gerente.

   Stay here with the kids while I talk with the manager.

2. (with the subjunctive) as long as, so long as (expressing a condition)

   Synonym: con tal que

   Mientras llueva, me quedaré en casa.

   As long as it rains, I'll stay at home.

3. (with comparatives) however much, however many, “the..., the...” (constructing parallel comparatives)

   Synonyms: cuanto más... más, (Latin America) entre más... más

   Mientras más lo hago, más me gusta.

   The more I do it, the more I like it.

4. (with the indicative) while, whereas (indicating difference)

Derived terms

• mientras que

 

Further reading

• “mientras”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
• “mientras” in Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, segunda edición, Real Academia Española, 2023. →ISBN

Anagrams

• mentiras, mentirás, terminas