Whereas and while (alors que / tandis que)

Opposing Natures

Whether you are a dog person or a cat person, our furry friends have distinct habits. To talk about these differences, we use conjunctions of contrast.

Contrasting with alors que

To say "whereas" in French, use alors que. It links two clauses to highlight a direct contrast between two facts, behaviors, or preferences.

The dog is obedient, whereas the cat is stubborn.
Le chien est obéissant, alors que le chat est têtu.
These dogs are affectionate, whereas those are stubborn.
Ces chiens sont affectueux, alors que ceux-là sont têtus.
My dog barks, whereas my neighbor's meows.
Mon chien aboie, alors que celui de mon voisin miaule.

Contrasting with tandis que

You can also use tandis que, which translates to "while" or "whereas". In this context, it doesn't mean "at the same time," but instead compares two differing situations. It works exactly like alors que.

I like the company of dogs, while you prefer cats.
J'aime la compagnie des chiens, tandis que tu préfères les chats.
The cat I am talking about purrs, while your dog barks!
Le chat dont je parle ronronne, tandis que ton chien aboie !