Weile

Weile is a German noun meaning a period of time or a short while, used especially with expressions like eine Weile or für eine Weile to indicate a non-specific duration. Grammatically, it is feminine (die Weile) and behaves like other feminine nouns in German. In everyday language the phrase "eine Weile" is common; examples: "Ich bleibe hier eine Weile," "Es hat eine Weile gedauert." It can also appear in more literary contexts.

The word is of Old High German origin and has cognates in other West Germanic languages, reflecting its long-standing presence in the German lexicon.

Weile also appears as a surname in German-speaking regions and can be part of place names or family names. It is not as common as other German surnames and does not itself denote a location.

Note: It should not be confused with Weil (conjunction meaning because) or Weiler (a different toponymic element). Weile is distinct in meaning and origin.