vez
time, turn
A countable instance of something happening
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
Vez is usually translated as time and refers to a single, countable instance of something happening — just like in English when you say "one time" or "three times".
vez
time (instance / occasion)
A specific instance or occasion when something happens.
La primera vez que monté en bici tenía cinco añosThe first time I rode a bike I was five years old
Te lo he dicho muchas vecesI've told you many times
turn (in a sequence)
Someone's turn in an ordered sequence. Just as English uses "time" for a slot in a sequence ("it's your time to go"), your vez is simply your instance in the order.
Espera tu vez antes de hablarWait your turn before speaking
¿Quién da la vez?Who's last in line?
a veces
sometimes, at times
Literally "at times" — on some occasions but not always.
A veces me olvido de apagar las lucesSometimes I forget to turn off the lights
A veces es mejor quedarse calladoAt times it's better to stay quiet
a la vez
at the same time, simultaneously
Literally "at the one time" — two or more things happening in the same moment.
No puedo hablar y escuchar a la vezI can't talk and listen at the same time
Todos aplaudieron a la vezEveryone applauded simultaneously
en vez de
instead of, in place of
Literally "in the time of" — one thing happening in the instance where another would have been.
Tomé agua en vez de refrescoI had water instead of soda
En vez de quejarte, ayudaInstead of complaining, help out
de vez en cuando
from time to time, every now and then, occasionally
Means that something happens occasionally or every now and then. The pattern de … en … evokes progressing through a series of repeated, similar occasions. Combined with cuando ("when"), the phrase suggests that the event occurs on some of those occasions rather than continuously.
De vez en cuando salimos a cenar fueraEvery now and then we go out for dinner
Me gusta ver películas de terror de vez en cuandoI like watching horror movies from time to time
tal vez
maybe, perhaps
Expresses uncertainty about whether something is true or will happen. Literally, vez means "turn" or "occasion," while tal means "such." The phrase suggests "on such an occasion" or "perhaps on one of those occasions," leaving the outcome unspecified.
Tal vez llueva esta tardeMaybe it will rain this afternoon
Tal vez tengas razónPerhaps you're right
otra vez
again
Literally "another time" — something is happening one more time.
¿Puedes repetir eso otra vez?Can you repeat that again?
Otra vez llegaste tardeYou arrived late again