přičemž

Nonrestrictive Connector Přičemž

Level 6

Přičemž is a formal written connector that translates to "while," "whereas," or "with [something] doing [something]." It attaches an additional thought, simultaneous action, or mild contrast to the end of a main clause.

How It Works

1. Meaning and Usage
Přičemž is used to append a simultaneous circumstance, an additional comment, or a mild contrast. In English, it often translates to "while," "whereas," or a participial phrase like "with [something] happening." Learner tip: English often uses '-ing' clauses of circumstance (e.g., "leaving the company in chaos"). A common learner trap is trying to translate these using archaic Czech transgressives. In modern Czech, using přičemž followed by a standard conjugated verb is the natural and correct way to express this.

2. Syntactic Rules and Word Order

Punctuation: Because přičemž introduces a dependent or relative clause, it must always be preceded by a comma when appending a clause to a sentence.
Starting a sentence: It should not start a sentence because it is a relative connector referring back to a previous clause. While some writers incorrectly start sentences with Přičemž..., stylistic authorities consider this an error. To avoid overly long, bureaucratic sentences, writers should drop the connector entirely and start a new, independent sentence.
Word order: Unlike in some other languages, přičemž does not change the word order of the clause it introduces. The clause follows standard Czech word order.
Spelling: As a relative connector, it is a frozen compound written as one word. Writing it as two words (při čemž) is a spelling error. If you mean the preposition and interrogative pronoun, it is při čem without the -ž (e.g., Při čem tě přistihli? - What were you caught doing?).

3. Pronunciation
Due to final consonant devoicing and assimilation, přičemž is pronounced as [přičemš]. Learners should avoid trying to voice the final 'ž'.

4. Register and Stylistic Nuance
This connector belongs strictly to formal, written Czech. In everyday spoken Czech, native speakers use a přitom instead. While learners often try to use přičemž to elevate their writing, Czech stylistic authorities warn against its overuse as a generic "glue" for independent thoughts, which creates unnecessarily long, bureaucratic sentences.

Examples (4)

Účast je zdarma, přičemž vybrané firmy si budou moci nárokovat diety.
Participation is free, while selected companies will be able to claim per diems.
Word by Word: Participation is free, at-which selected companies to-themselves will be-able to-claim per-diems.
A classic administrative use appending an additional, simultaneous condition.
Ceny dramaticky vzrostly, přičemž poptávka po potravinách stoupá rychleji než jejich nabídka.
Prices have risen dramatically, with the demand for food rising faster than its supply.
Word by Word: Prices dramatically rose, at-which demand for food rises faster than their supply.
Used in journalistic writing to add a related circumstance or mild contrast.
V kvalifikaci dostal každý dvě jízdy, přičemž ta lepší se počítala.
In qualifying, everyone got two runs, with the better one counting.
Word by Word: In qualification got everyone two runs, at-which that better itself counted.
Shows how přičemž translates well to the English "with [something] doing [something]" structure.
Firma loni propustila stovky zaměstnanců, přičemž letos plánuje další škrty.
The company laid off hundreds of employees last year, and at the same time it is planning further cuts this year.
Word by Word: Company last-year laid-off hundreds employees, at-which this-year plans further cuts.
Demonstrates its use as a coordinating connector linking two related statements in formal prose.

Common Mistakes

Using přičemž as a subordinating conjunction like "zatímco" to introduce a dependent clause before the main clause.
Přičemž pršelo, zůstali jsme doma.
Zatímco pršelo, zůstali jsme doma.
While modern writers sometimes start sentences with přičemž to continue a previous thought, it cannot be used as a subordinating conjunction to introduce a dependent clause before the main clause. Use "zatímco" (while/whereas) for this purpose.
Using the highly formal přičemž in everyday spoken Czech.
On si koupil nové auto, přičemž nemá peníze.
On si koupil nové auto, a přitom nemá peníze.
Přičemž sounds stilted and unnatural in casual speech. The natural spoken equivalent is "a přitom".
Writing přičemž as two separate words when used as a connector.
Projekt byl úspěšný, při čemž náklady zůstaly nízké.
Projekt byl úspěšný, přičemž náklady zůstaly nízké.
When used as a connector, it is a frozen compound and must always be written as a single word. The two-word form "při čemž" is only correct when literally meaning "during what" or "at what" (preposition + pronoun).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

přičemžLevel 6Nonrestrictive Connector Přičemž

Learn This First

The connector 'přičemž' is a formal conjunction used to link an additional circumstance or comment to a previous clause. To understand it, learners should already be familiar with basic conjunctions (like 'a'), the concept of adding information to a whole sentence (similar to the relative 'což'), and standard Czech sentence structure.

Words in This Pattern