la vez que
/la beθ ke/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "time I" is translated as la vez que.
la vez que is used to refer to a specific occasion when something happened. It should not be confused with terms used for the passage of time or clock time, such as la hora (the hour), minutos (minutes) or el tiempo (abstract time or duration).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of la (the), vez (time/occasion) and que (that).
Which one should you use?
Use la vez que to refer to a specific occasion, whereas el tiempo refers to the abstract concept of time or a duration.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because vez is a feminine noun, the definite article must be la rather than el.
How do you pronounce it?
/la beθ ke/
Did you know?
- The word vez comes from the Latin vicis, meaning 'change' or 'alternation'. This is why vez refers to a specific instance or turn rather than the flow of time.
- While la vez que describes a specific occasion, the phrase a la vez is used to mean 'simultaneously'.
- Spanish uses vez to count occurrences, such as una vez for 'once' and dos veces for 'twice'.
Examples in context
- Son las tres y cuarto de la tarde.It is three-fifteen in the afternoon
- Son las doce y media de la noche.It is twelve-thirty at night
- las dosTwo o'clock
- son las siete y mediaIt is seven-thirty
- son las nueve y cuartoIt is nine-fifteen
- La vez que fuimos a París fue increíble.The time we went to Paris was incredible.
- No recuerdo la vez que te llamé.I don't remember the time I called you.
- La vez que ganamos el partido fue muy emocionante.The time we won the match was very exciting.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are reminiscing about their old travel stories.
- Javier¿Recuerdas la vez que nos perdimos en el bosque?Do you remember the time we got lost in the forest?
- SofíaSí, fue un desastre total.Yes, it was a total disaster.
- JavierPero fue una aventura muy divertida.But it was a very fun adventure.
- SofíaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, que, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
