Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esta vez | /esta beθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /esta bes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| de esta | /de ˈesta/ | |
| aquesta vez | /akesta beθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /akesta bes/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
poetic |
| de aquesta | /de akesta/ (from spelling rules) | poetic |
The phrase is used to refer to now, today or on this occasion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine singular demonstrative adjective esta (this) and the feminine singular noun vez (time/occurrence).
Which one should you use?
While esta vez is the standard form, aquesta vez and de aquesta are poetic variations used in literature. The phrase de esta is also a form of the expression.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal settings, you can use En esta ocasión to say "this time". For an informal way to say "this time around", use En esta vuelta.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the variation En esta oportunidad is used to mean "this time".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because vez is a feminine noun, the demonstrative adjective must be the feminine form esta rather than the masculine este.
How do you pronounce it?
/esta beθ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word vez comes from the Latin vicis, meaning 'change' or 'alternation'. This makes it a linguistic cousin to the English word 'vice versa', which literally means 'the position being changed'.
- While vez means 'time' in the sense of an occurrence, it is never used to talk about clock time or duration. For those meanings, Spanish uses tiempo, and using vez in that context would be a significant mistake.
- While esta vez refers to a single occurrence, the word vez is used to form the phrase de vez en cuando, which means 'once in a while'.
Examples in context
- ¿Esta vez a dónde?Where to, this time?This sentence uses esta vez to ask about a destination.Tatoeba #8205667 by Curro, translation #8271834 by lunchmeat317
- ¿Quién es esta vez?Who is it this time?This sentence uses esta vez to ask about a person's identity.Tatoeba #8205669 by Curro, translation #8271833 by lunchmeat317
- Esta vez no fallaré.I won't fail this time.This sentence uses esta vez to express a resolution to not fail.Tatoeba #2828783 by marcelostockle, translation #2546755 by CK
- Esta vez, debemos asegurarnos de entregar los informes a tiempo.This time, we must make sure to submit the reports on time.
- En esta ocasión, quisiera ofrecerles una propuesta concreta.This time, I would like to present you with a specific proposal.
- ¡Ahora sí! Vamos a ganar el partido esta vez.Now, yes! We're going to win the game this time.
- En esta vuelta, vamos a escoger un lugar diferente para comer.This time around, we're going to choose a different place to eat.
- ¡Esta vez sí que vamos a pasar un buen día juntos!This time, we're really going to have a great day together!
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing their dinner plans.
- Elena¿Cenamos fuera esta vez?Shall we eat out this time?
- DanielSí, me parece una buena idea, Elena.Yes, that sounds like a good idea, Elena.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿prefieres comida italiana?Daniel, do you prefer Italian food?
- DanielSí, me encanta la pasta.Yes, I love pasta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “this time” translations and entries de esta, 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, esta, vez, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
