Vocabulary
derweil
/deːɐ̯ˈvaɪ̯l/· adverb
meanwhile, in the meantime (news style)
Derweil is a newspaper connector that switches to something happening at the same time elsewhere; in conversation you would say währenddessen or inzwischen.
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Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
derweil
meanwhile, in the meantime
Die Gewerkschaft droht mit Streik; die Arbeitgeber halten derweil an ihrem Angebot fest.
The union is threatening to strike; meanwhile the employers are sticking to their offer.
Word family
derweildie Weilewhileeinstweilenfor the time beingmittlerweileby now, meanwhile
Common combinations
- derweil geht die Suche weitermeanwhile the search goes on
- derweil steigen die Preisemeanwhile prices are rising
- derweil in Hamburgmeanwhile in Hamburg
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
währenddesseninzwischenunterdessen
Common learner mistakes
- Derweil gehe ich schnell einkaufen. (in casual speech)Inzwischen gehe ich schnell einkaufen.Derweil is typical of written news German; in everyday speech it sounds bookish or regional.
Real examples
- Die Politik diskutiert noch über Fahrverbote; die Feinstaubbelastung steigt derweil weiter.Politicians are still debating driving bans; meanwhile particulate pollution keeps rising.
- Die Rettungskräfte suchen seit Stunden nach den Vermissten. Derweil hat der Regen wieder eingesetzt.Rescue workers have been searching for the missing people for hours. Meanwhile the rain has started again.
- Die Eltern saßen beim Elternabend, die Kinder spielten derweil im Hof.The parents were at the parents' evening; meanwhile the children played in the yard.
