Miközben

Miközben is a Hungarian conjunction that translates to "while" or "whereas" in English. It is used to connect two clauses that describe simultaneous or contrasting actions or states.

As a conjunction of simultaneity, "miközben" indicates that two events are happening at the same time. For example, "Olvasok, miközben a kávém hűl" translates to "I am reading while my coffee cools." In this sentence, the act of reading and the coffee cooling are happening concurrently.

"Miközben" can also be used to express contrast or a difference between two situations, similar to "whereas." For instance, "Ő szeretne kimenni, miközben én otthon maradnék" means "He would like to go out, whereas I would stay home." Here, the conjunction highlights the opposing desires of two people.

The word is derived from the demonstrative pronoun "mi" (what/which) and the adverb "közben" (meanwhile/in the meantime). The construction "miközben" essentially functions as "at which time" or "during which." It is a common and versatile word in Hungarian, essential for expressing temporal relationships and comparisons between different ideas or events within a sentence. Its usage is generally straightforward, connecting two independent or dependent clauses to provide context or contrast.