Why do people use the word "whilst" instead of "while"?

Whilst is almost never used in America and most people would laugh at you for using it. The UK is where you might hear it used sometimes. It's an old fashioned word and really shouldn't be used at all.

https://hansengel.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/while-v...

Why not?! As Mircat says, "whilst" is more used in Britain than in the USA.

In the English language there are many words with alternative forms - it is nice to give the less-used form a whirl from time to time.

It's a variant usage that goes with issues of style, region, and individual speaker.

There's no very clear pattern of use, but "whilst" generally has two uses:

1) as an 'elegant variation' on "while" in the time sense, often used in formal style.

"You may wait here whilst I am in the library."

2) as a separate adverb meaning "whereas" / "depsite the fact that" / etc.

"Whilst we would like to employ you, we have no vacancies."

Personally, I'd never, ever use "whilst" in the time sense, and not in the "whereas" sense except in formal writing.

I always thought it was a cultural thing, I har people from the UK use that term but rarely if ever here in the US. There are other words I hear in the UK that are not used elsewhere but I can't think of any examples right now. Cultural differences? I like Whilst, though. it sounds more formal, more poetic.

I think "whilst" is a British saying.

Use Of Whilst

I use both, and for different reasons/meanings:

while : during the time that; at the same time as

"…texting while driving…"

whilst : = whereas : (that is, not related to situations involving a time period.)

"Whilst he concedes that many of the proposals are deficient, he nevertheless seems determined to have them implemented."

Relax a bit and be more accepting, looking at the communication for what it means.

whilst is a dialectic variant of while (or the reverse, depending upon your viewpoint), so no.

It makes them sound sophisticated while it makes you look dumbfounded