zwischendurch

Zwischendurch is a German adverb meaning “in the meantime” or “in between.” It denotes a brief interruption or pause within an ongoing activity, often describing something done while another task continues or between events within a period of time.

Origin and form: The word is a compound of zwischen (between) and durch (through), forming the standard spelling zwischendurch, written as one word. It functions as an adverb and is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence. It can modify verbs or whole clauses, for example: Ich rufe dich zwischendurch an. Zwischendurch gönnte er sich einen Kaffee.

Usage and nuance: Zwischendurch emphasizes short, occasional interruptions rather than a long intermission. It is common in both spoken and written German and appears in everyday narration, descriptions, and informal discourse. It can be used with various actions to indicate a pause or a brief activity taken during a longer process.

Examples:

- Ich mache zwischendurch mal eine kurze Pause. (I’ll take a short break in between.)

- Zwischendurch habe ich mir einen Kaffee gemacht. (In the meantime I made myself a coffee.)

- Er arbeitet am Projekt weiter, zwischendurch denkt er über neue Ideen nach. (He continues working on the project, in the meantime thinking about new ideas.)

Related terms include in der Zwischenzeit and unterdessen, which convey similar ideas of “meanwhile” but with slightly different emphasis on duration or simultaneity. Zwischendurch remains a flexible, everyday marker of brief intrusions into ongoing activity.