This is the 144th most frequent Dutch word.
terwijl
"While" or "whereas."
In this sentence, 'terwijl' introduces a contrast between the two preferences, thus demonstrating contrastive usage.
Hij houdt van wandelen terwijl zij liever thuisblijft.
He enjoys walking whereas she prefers to stay home.
In this context, 'terwijl' introduces a concession, showing a situation that could contrast with the main clause, akin to 'although' in English.
Terwijl er veel te doen was, bleef hij rustig.
Although there was much to do, he remained calm.
Here, 'terwijl' is used as a conjunction to indicate that two actions are happening at the same time, showing a temporal relationship.