ondertussen

Onder ondertussen is a Dutch adverb meaning in the meantime or in the interim. It is used to indicate a period during which another action occurs, or to describe something that happens concurrently with what has already been mentioned. It helps connect events in time within a narrative or description.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the parts onder (under, during) and tussen (between). It has evolved from older forms such as ondertusschen in Middle Dutch and is now written as a single word in contemporary Dutch. While closely related to other time expressions, onder tussen may carry a sense of activity unfolding within an ongoing situation.

Usage and nuances: Ondertussen is common in both spoken and written Dutch and can begin a sentence or appear within one. It is often interchangeable with intussen or in de tussentijd, though with subtle nuances: ondertussen emphasizes the intervening period within a process or scene, rather than a general moment in time. In more formal writing, the longer phrase in de tussentijd may be preferred for clarity.

Examples:

- Ik wacht op de bus; ondertussen lees ik een boek. (I am waiting for the bus; in the meantime I am reading a book.)

- De winkel was gesloten; ondertussen maakte hij plannen voor de reis. (The shop was closed; meanwhile he made plans for the trip.)

See also: intussen, in de tussentijd, tussentijds.