mentres
While: Mentres
Mentres (while) links two actions that happen at the same time, as in Mentres comía, lía o xornal (While he was eating, he read the newspaper).
How It Works
Two things at once: the mentres clause can come first or second: Mentres cociño, escoito a radio or Escoito a radio mentres cociño (I listen to the radio while I cook).
Always a conjugated verb: Galician does not put a gerund after mentres. Say mentres comía, not mentres comendo.
Pronouns go before the verb: mentres introduces a subordinate clause, so an unstressed pronoun comes first: mentres ti te duchas (while you shower). See pronouns in subordinate clauses.
Mentres tanto means "meanwhile" and stands on its own: Vai ti á tenda; mentres tanto, eu fago a cea. Mentres alone can also work this way at the end of a sentence: Toma un café mentres (Have a coffee in the meantime).
Mentres que for contrast: it can set two different facts side by side, like English "whereas": Ela traballa moito, mentres que o seu irmán non fai nada.
Spelling: the standard form is mentres. Mentras is heard in speech but is not standard.
Looking ahead: to say "as long as ... not" or "until" about the future, see mentres non + subjunctive.
Examples (6)
- Mentres comía, lía o xornal.
While he was eating, he read the newspaper.
Word by Word: While ate-he, read-he the newspaper.
Both verbs are in the imperfect because both actions were in progress.
- Escoito a radio mentres cociño.
I listen to the radio while I cook.
Word by Word: Listen-I the radio while cook-I.
- Mentres eu cociñaba, ela poñía a mesa.
While I was cooking, she was setting the table.
Word by Word: While I cooked, she put the table.
- Mentres ti te duchas, eu preparo o almorzo.
While you have a shower, I will make breakfast.
Word by Word: While you yourself shower, I prepare the breakfast.
The pronoun te goes before the verb inside the mentres clause.
- Vai ti á tenda; mentres tanto, eu fago a cea.
You go to the shop; meanwhile, I will make dinner.
Word by Word: Go you to-the shop; meanwhile, I make the dinner.
Mentres tanto means "meanwhile" and stands on its own.
- Ela traballa moito, mentres que o seu irmán non fai nada.
She works a lot, whereas her brother does nothing.
Word by Word: She works much, while that the her brother not does nothing.
Mentres que contrasts two facts rather than timing them.
Common Mistakes
Writing the non-standard form mentras.
Mentras comía, lía o xornal.Mentres comía, lía o xornal.Mentras is common in speech, but the standard spelling is mentres.
Putting a gerund after mentres.
Mentres comendo, lía o xornal.Mentres comía, lía o xornal.Mentres needs a conjugated verb. A gerund on its own already means "while doing", so either drop mentres or conjugate the verb.
Attaching the pronoun after the verb inside the mentres clause.
Mentres ti dúchaste, eu preparo o almorzo.Mentres ti te duchas, eu preparo o almorzo.Mentres introduces a subordinate clause, and in these clauses the unstressed pronoun goes before the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mentres connects simultaneous actions or situations.
Related Patterns
- mentres non + SubjunctiveUntil: Mentres Non
The same word with non and the subjunctive means "as long as ... not" or "until".
Level 5 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Explains why pronouns go before the verb after mentres.
Level 3 - Imperfect of -ar Verbs
The imperfect is the usual tense for two ongoing past actions linked by mentres.
Level 2 - estar + GerundAction in Progress: Estar + Gerund
Often combined with mentres to describe a background action in progress.
Level 2 - ao + InfinitiveUpon Doing: Ao + Infinitive
Another way to link two moments in time, meaning "when" or "upon".
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice mentres in Bubblegum
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