Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| en vez de | /em ˈbeθ de/ /em ˈbes de/ |
| en lugar de | /en luˈɡaɾ de/ |
| en vez de ello | /en beθ de eʝo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /en bes de eʝo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| en lugar de aqueso | /en luɡaɾ de akeso/ (from spelling rules) |
| en su lugar | /en su luɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrases are used to express the concept of 'in the place of' something or someone. In informal conversations, you may also use mejor to express the idea of 'instead'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en lugar de is composed of en (in), lugar (place) and de (of).
Which one should you use?
While en vez de and en lugar de are largely interchangeable, en vez de is slightly more common in everyday speech, whereas en lugar de can feel slightly more formal or precise. Additionally, en su lugar is used as an adverbial phrase at the end of a sentence to mean 'instead', while en vez de requires an object or a verb to follow it.
How does it change in a sentence?
When followed by a verb, the phrase en vez de is followed by the infinitive form of the verb. The phrase en su lugar is used as an adverbial phrase at the end of a sentence to mean 'instead'.
How do you pronounce it?
/em ˈbeθ de/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to use en vez de alone at the end of a sentence to mean 'instead'. However, in Spanish, you must use en su lugar or en vez de ello to refer back to a previously mentioned idea.
Did you know?
- The word vez in en vez de comes from the Latin vicis, which means 'change' or 'alternation'.
- Using en lugar de can sometimes refer to a physical substitution of one person for another, whereas en vez de is more often used for abstract choices.
- The word vez is also used in Spanish to count occurrences, such as in una vez for 'one time'.
Examples in context
- Actúa en vez de hablar.Act instead of talking.This example shows how to use en vez de with a verb.Tatoeba #1233128 by marcelostockle, translation #5164812 by Zaksocool
- Pregunta a Tom en su lugar.Ask Tom instead.This sentence illustrates the use of en su lugar at the end of a sentence.Tatoeba #6031394 by albrusgher, translation #3732260 by CK
- Él fue en lugar de su padre.He went instead of his father.This sentence demonstrates the use of en lugar de with a noun.Tatoeba #1643005 by marcelostockle, translation #9056789 by shekitten
- En lugar de salir al cine, prefiero quedarme en casa y leer un libro.Instead of going to the movies, I prefer to stay at home and read a book.
- En vez de tomar café, prefiero tomar té.Instead of having coffee, I prefer to have tea.
- No me gusta el fútbol, prefiero mejor el baloncesto.I don't like soccer, I prefer basketball instead.
- Deberías estudiar más. En su lugar, pasas mucho tiempo con tus amigos.You should study more, instead, you spend a lot of time with your friends.
- No quiero ir al cine, en cambio, prefiero ir a un concierto.I don't want to go to the movies, instead, I prefer to go to a concert.
- 131 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are deciding what to drink.
- Lucía¿Quieres un café ahora?Do you want a coffee now?
- AlejandroNo, prefiero agua en vez de café.No, I prefer water instead of coffee.
- LucíaEstá bien, traeré un vaso de agua.That's fine, I'll bring a glass of water.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía.Thank you, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “instead” translations and entries en vez de, en lugar de, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, ello, en, lugar, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
