alguna vez
/alˌɡuna ˈbeθ/
The English word "ever" can be translated into Spanish as alguna vez or jamás.
Meaning: at any time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| alguna vez | /alˌɡuna ˈbeθ/ /alˌɡuna ˈbes/ |
| jamás | /xaˈmas/ |
Alguna vez is used to mean "ever" or "at some point" and is typically found in questions or affirmative statements. When asking if someone has "ever" done something in their life, Spanish speakers frequently use the present perfect tense alongside alguna vez.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, jamás is a stronger, more emphatic form of 'nunca' and is used to mean "never" in negative statements, though it can also function as "ever" in certain emphatic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverbial phrase, alguna vez is fixed and does not change its form to agree with the gender or number of the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/alˌɡuna ˈbeθ/
Did you know?
- The word vez comes from the Latin vicis, which meant 'change' or 'alternation'. This is the same root that gives English the word 'vice versa'.
- To emphasize that something will 'never ever' happen, Spanish speakers often double up by using both nunca and jamás in the same sentence.
- While jamás means 'never' in most contexts, it can be used in a question to mean 'ever' if the speaker is expressing extreme disbelief or shock.
Examples in context
- ¿Te ríes alguna vez?Do you ever laugh?This sentence shows how to use alguna vez in a question.Tatoeba #3876805 by SrTortuga, translation #3823126 by CK
- Nadie jamás lo elogió.Nobody ever praises him.This sentence demonstrates the use of jamás in a negative statement.Tatoeba #5041385 by albrusgher, translation #307940 by CK
- ¿Ha cazado alguna vez?Have you ever hunted?This sentence shows how to ask about a past experience using alguna vez.Tatoeba #11936679 by Seael, translation #11936670 by CK
- No he estado nunca en España.I have never been to Spain.
- No he visto en mi vida una aurora boreal tan hermosa.I have never seen such a beautiful Northern Lights show in my life.
- En ningún momento he dudado de tus habilidades.At no time have I doubted your abilities.
- Bajo ninguna circunstancia aceptaré ese trato.Under no circumstances will I accept that deal.
- ¡Nunca jamás volveré a comer esa pizza!I will never ever eat that pizza again!
- En la vida habíamos visto una puesta de sol tan espectacular.We had never seen such a spectacular sunset in our lives.
- 658 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about travel experiences.
- María¿Has estado alguna vez en Japón?Have you ever been to Japan?
- AlejandroNo, nunca he ido.No, I have never gone.
- MaríaYo quiero ir alguna vez.I want to go some time.
- AlejandroYo también, Alejandro quiere ir contigo.Me too, Alejandro wants to go with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ever” translations and entries alguna vez, jamás, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jamás, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
