We consider the dynamics of 2+1 dimensional SU(N) gauge theory with Chern-Simons level k and Nf fundamental fermions. By requiring consistency with previously suggested dualities for Nf≤2k
Nearby in the stack
as well as the dynamics at
k=0
we propose that the theory with
Nf>2k
breaks the
U(Nf)
global symmetry spontaneously to
U(Nf/2+k)×U(Nf/2−k)
. In contrast to the 3+1 dimensional case, the symmetry breaking takes place in a range of quark masses and not just at one point. The target space never becomes parametrically large and the Nambu-Goldstone bosons are therefore not visible semi-classically. Such symmetry breaking is argued to take place in some intermediate range of the number of flavors,
2k<Nf<N∗(N,k)
, with the upper limit
N∗
obeying various constraints. The Lagrangian for the Nambu-Goldstone bosons has to be supplemented by nontrivial Wess-Zumino terms that are necessary for the consistency of the picture, even at
k=0
. Furthermore, we suggest two scalar dual theories in this range of
Nf
. A similar picture is developed for
SO(N)
and
Sp(N)
gauge theories. It sheds new light on monopole condensation and confinement in the