while
vs
during

QUICK ANSWER

"While" is a conjunction which is often translated as "mientras", and "during" is a preposition which is often translated as "durante". Learn more about the difference between "while" and "during" below.

while(

wayl

)

A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).

conjunction

1. (during)

a. mientras

I love listening to music while I clean the house.Me encanta escuchar música mientras limpio la casa.

2. (as long as)

a. mientras

You will keep your job while I am the boss.Mientras yo sea el jefe, mantendrás tu trabajo.

3. (although)

a. aunque

While he is a good match, her parents do not like him.Aunque sea un buen partido, a los padres de ella no les gusta.

4. (whereas)

a. mientras que

I love the mountains while my husband prefers the sea.Me encantan las montañas mientras que mi marido prefiere el mar.

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

5. (time)

a. el rato

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

After a while, I realized I was on the wrong bus.Después de un rato, me di cuenta de que estaba en el autobús equivocado.

during(

door

ihng

)

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).

preposition

1. (throughout)

a. durante

Women should avoid alcohol during pregnancy.Las mujeres deben evitar el alcohol durante el embarazo.

2. (in the course of)