⏳➡️

How to Say ‘In the meantime’ in German

Schon mal

shohn mahl

[shohn mahl]

💬 Usage Tip: schon mal here means doing something ahead while waiting for the rest. Swap it in elsewhere: ich deck schon mal den Tisch "I'll set the table in the meantime".

Phrase Breakdown

Schon

[shohn]

already / in the meantime

Here, with 'mal', it means doing something ahead of time, getting started already.

Example

Ich geh schon mal vor.

I'll go on ahead.

mal

[mahl]

just / for now

A softening particle; together with 'schon' it means 'in the meantime, in advance'.

Example

Ich deck schon mal den Tisch.

I'll just set the table in the meantime.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer