zënter (Conjunction)

Ever Since: Zënter as a Conjunction

Level 3

Zënter + clause means ever since: Zënter ech hei wunnen, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch. The verb goes to the end.

How It Works

1. Preposition or conjunction
Zënter and zanter can stand before a noun: zënter dem Summer. It can also start a whole clause:

  • Zënter ech hei wunnen, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch. (Since I have been living here, I speak more Luxembourgish.)

Zënter and zanter are two spellings of the same word. Some speakers add datt: zënter (datt).

2. Word order
The conjugated verb goes to the end of the zënter clause. If the clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Zënter se hir Plaz verluer huet, huet meng Schwëster Geldsuergen. See verb at the end in subordinate clauses and subordinate clause first.

3. Which tense?

  • Something still going on: the present, even though English says have been: zënter ech hei wunnen, zënter mir e Kand hunn.
  • A single event that started it: the perfect: zënter hatt fortgaangen ass.

The main clause is usually in the present: Zënter hatt fortgaangen ass, feelt hatt mer. (Since she left, I have been missing her.)

4. Time only, never a reason
English since can also mean because. Zënter cannot. For a reason, use well: Ech kommen net, well ech keng Zäit hunn.

Examples (5)

  1. Zënter ech hei wunnen, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch.

    Since I have been living here, I speak more Luxembourgish.

    The zënter clause comes first, so the main clause starts with its verb.

  2. Meng Schwëster huet Geldsuergen, zënter se hir Plaz verluer huet.

    My sister has had money worries since she lost her job.

    A single event in the perfect started the situation.

  3. Zanter mir e Kand hunn, schlofe mir manner.

    Since we have had a child, we sleep less.

    Zanter is the other spelling of zënter.

  4. Et ass vill méi roueg, zënter datt d'Strooss zou ass.

    It is much quieter since the street has been closed.

    Zënter datt means the same as zënter.

  5. Zënter hatt fortgaangen ass, feelt hatt mer.

    Since she left, I have been missing her.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the verb in second place in the zënter clause.

    Zënter ech wunnen hei, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch.
    Zënter ech hei wunnen, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch.

    Zënter starts a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the end.

  • Using zënter to give a reason, like English since meaning because.

    Zënter ech keng Zäit hunn, kommen ech net.
    Well ech keng Zäit hunn, kommen ech net.

    Zënter is only about time: this sentence would mean ever since I have had no time. If you mean because, use well.

  • Putting the subject before the verb in the main clause.

    Zënter ech hei wunnen, ech schwätze méi Lëtzebuergesch.
    Zënter ech hei wunnen, schwätzen ech méi Lëtzebuergesch.

    The zënter clause counts as the first element, so the main verb comes right after the comma.

How It Connects

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

zënter (Conjunction)Level 3Ever Since: Zënter as a Conjunction

Learn This First

Before Ever Since: Zënter as a Conjunction, learn Since and For: Zanter and The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses.

Words in This Pattern

zënter