enquanto

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Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese enquanto, from en (“in”) + quanto (“how much”). Compare Spanish en cuanto.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽˈkwɐ̃.tu/, (natural pronunciation) /ĩˈkwɐ̃.tu/
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽˈkwɐ̃.to/, (natural pronunciation) /ĩˈkwɐ̃.to/

  • Rhymes: -ɐ̃tu
  • Hyphenation: en‧quan‧to

Conjunction

enquanto

  1. as; while (at the same time as)
    Enquanto vocês assistiam o filme, eu estudei.
    While you were watching the film, I was studying.
    Fique aqui dentro enquanto chove.
    Stay inside while it rains.
    • 2003, J. K. Rowling, Lia Wyler, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix, Rocco, page 246:
      Então continuaram a estudar enquanto o céu lá fora se tornava gradualmente mais escuro.
      Then they continued to study while the sky outside was becoming gradually darker.
  2. while; whereas (introduces a situation that is contrasts with another situation)
    Enquanto eles são violentos e perigosos, nós somos pacíficos e amigáveis.
    While they are violent and dangerous, we are peaceful and friendly.
    Vocês querem vadiar enquanto nós queremos trabalhar.
    You want to idle while we want to work.

Derived terms

Preposition

enquanto

  1. (formal) as a (in the role of; being)
    Synonym: como
    Qual é a sua opinião enquanto professor?
    What is your opinion as a teacher?

See also

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia