tuo tarpu

Meanwhile and Whereas

Level 5

Tuo tarpu means meanwhile, in the meantime: Aš ruošiau vakarienę, o vaikai tuo tarpu žaidė.

How It Works

1. Meanwhile. This is the main meaning:

  • Aš ruošiau vakarienę, o vaikai tuo tarpu žaidė.
  • Tu nueik į parduotuvę, o aš tuo tarpu išvirsiu kavos.
  • Tuo tarpu lauke prasidėjo audra. (Meanwhile, a storm broke outside.)

2. With kai, for time. Tuo tarpu, kai can open a time clause, like tuo metu, kai (at the time when): Tuo tarpu, kai tu dirbai sode, aš iškepiau pyragą.

3. Contrast (whereas). To compare two different facts, Lithuanian simply uses o: Mieste butai brangūs, o kaime pigūs. You will also meet tuo tarpu in this meaning in writing. The joined form tuo tarpu, kai used for contrast (a loan of while, whereas) is treated as a mistake. If you want an extra word, o … tuo tarpu keeps the meaning clear.

4. Related words. kai and kol also link actions in time. For a contrast that is surprising, use tačiau or bet.

Examples (5)

  1. Aš ruošiau vakarienę, o vaikai tuo tarpu žaidė.

    I was making dinner, and meanwhile the children played.

    O switches to the children, and tuo tarpu places their play in the same time.

  2. Tu nueik į parduotuvę, o aš tuo tarpu išvirsiu kavos.

    You go to the shop, and meanwhile I’ll make some coffee.

  3. Tuo tarpu lauke prasidėjo audra.

    Meanwhile, a storm broke out outside.

    Tuo tarpu can start a new sentence in a story.

  4. Svečiai dar valgė, o šeimininkė tuo tarpu ruošė desertą.

    The guests were still eating, and meanwhile the hostess was making dessert.

  5. Tuo tarpu, kai tu dirbai sode, aš iškepiau pyragą.

    While you were working in the garden, I baked a pie.

    For time, tuo tarpu, kai is correct.

Common Mistakes

  • Using tuo tarpu, kai to contrast two facts, like English whereas.

    Mieste butai brangūs, tuo tarpu kai kaime jie pigūs.
    Mieste butai brangūs, o kaime jie pigūs.

    For a contrast, Standard Lithuanian uses o. Tuo tarpu, kai is only correct when it talks about time.

How It Connects

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

tuo tarpuLevel 5Meanwhile and Whereas

Learn This First

Tuo tarpu can connect simultaneous events or contrast situations.

Words in This Pattern

tuo tarpuo