ni una sola vez
/ni una sola beθ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "not even once" is translated into Spanish as ni una sola vez.
ni una sola vez is used to emphasize that something has never happened, not even a single time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ni (not even), una (one), sola (single/alone) and vez (time).
Which one should you use?
You can use ni una vez to say "not once" if you want to be less emphatic, whereas ni una sola vez provides the direct equivalent for the more emphatic "not even once". For a highly emphatic expression that conveys sarcasm or disappointment, you may use the informal phrase Ni una mísera vez.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because vez is a feminine noun, the adjective sola must agree in gender and is written as sola rather than solo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ni una sola beθ/
Did you know?
- The word mísera in the sarcastic variation Ni una mísera vez literally means 'miserable' or 'wretched'. It is used here to describe the 'time' as if it were a tiny, pathetic amount of currency.
- The Spanish word for 'time' in this phrase, vez, is feminine, whereas the word for 'time' as a duration, tiempo, is masculine.
- The word vez does not actually mean 'time' in the sense of a clock reading, but originates from the Latin vicis which means 'change' or 'turn'.
Examples in context
- No ni una vez mencionó mi nombre durante la reunión.Not even once did he mention my name during the meeting.
- No ni una vez me ha invitado a su casa.Not even once has he invited me to his house.
- Ni siquiera una vez logró completar el proyecto a tiempo.Not even once did he manage to complete the project on time.
- Ni siquiera una vez ha cumplido con su promesa.Not even once has he kept his promise.
- Ni una sola vez se ha disculpado por su comportamiento.Not even once has he apologized for his behavior.
- Ni una sola vez ganó un premio en su vida.Not even once did he win an award in his life.
- No me llamó ni una sola vez.He didn't call me even once.
- No he comido allí ni una sola vez.I haven't eaten there even once.
- Ella no dudó ni una sola vez.She didn't doubt even once.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about a local museum.
- Alejandro¿Has visitado el museo nuevo, Lucía?Have you visited the new museum, Lucía?
- LucíaNo, ni una sola vez.No, not even once.
- AlejandroEs una pena, es muy bonito.It's a shame, it's very beautiful.
- LucíaIré el próximo fin de semana.I'll go next weekend.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ni, una, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
