01
die Weile
while
An undefined, usually shorter period of time.
example
Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis ich die Antwort gefunden habe.
It took a while before I found the answer.
die Weile
while
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
'Weile' (while) is the core of words like 'Langeweile' (boredom, literally: long while) or the adjective 'kurzweilig' (entertaining, literally: lasting a short while). The adverb 'mittlerweile' (meanwhile / by now) also contains this word.
EXAMPLE
Der Film war so kurzweilig, dass die Zeit wie im Flug verging.
The film was so entertaining that the time flew by.
Typical collocations
The word 'Weile' (while) is almost always used in fixed combinations with prepositions. The most common are 'eine Weile' (a while), 'für eine Weile' (for a while), and 'nach einer Weile' (after a while).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du für eine Weile auf meine Tasche aufpassen?
Can you watch my bag for a while?
Use with verbs
'eine Weile' (a while) is often combined with verbs that describe a duration of time. Typical phrases are 'es dauert eine Weile' (it takes a while), 'eine Weile warten' (to wait a while), or 'eine Weile bleiben' (to stay a while).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch eine Weile auf meinen Freund warten.
I still have to wait a while for my friend.
Compare with
Weile vs Zeit
time
'die Zeit' and 'die Weile' can both mean a duration. However, 'die Zeit' is much more general: you can have time, talk about a specific period of time, or ask for the time of day. 'die Weile' almost always means an undefined, usually not very long period of time. People often say 'eine Weile' (a while). Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with duration. A practical tip: for general questions, appointments, and free time, use 'Zeit'. For 'waiting, staying, or talking for a short time or for some time', 'eine Weile' often fits.
Weile
Nach dem Essen bleiben wir noch eine Weile im Garten.
After dinner, we'll stay in the garden for a while longer.
Zeit
Hast du morgen Zeit für einen kurzen Spaziergang?
Do you have time tomorrow for a short walk?
In real life
Loading video examples...