dos veces al día
/dos beθes al dia/from spelling rules
The English phrase "two times daily" is translated into Spanish as dos veces al día.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dos veces al día is composed of dos (two), veces (times), al (a contraction of a el, meaning at the or to the) and día (day).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word veces is the plural form of vez (time/instance).
Did you know?
- The word vez is used for an instance or occurrence, whereas the word tiempo is used for chronological time, meaning you cannot use tiempos to say 'two times'.
- In Spanish medical prescriptions, you will often see the abbreviation c/8h instead of dos veces al día to specify that the medication must be taken every eight hours.
- Although the English word 'day' comes from Germanic roots, the Spanish día is actually a distant relative of the word for 'heaven' or 'sky' in Proto-Indo-European.
Examples in context
- El medicamento debe tomarse dos veces al día para obtener resultados óptimos.The medication should be taken two times daily for optimal results.
- Siempre deberías cepillarte los dientes unas dos veces al día.You should always brush your teeth about two times daily.
- Debes tomar la medicina dos veces al día.You must take the medicine two times daily.
- Él hace ejercicio dos veces al día.He exercises two times daily.
- ¿Necesito cepillarme los dientes dos veces al día?Do I need to brush my teeth two times daily?
Example conversation
A pharmacist is giving instructions to a customer.
- JavierTome este jarabe dos veces al día.Take this syrup two times daily.
- Elena¿Puedo tomarlo con la comida, Javier?Can I take it with food, Javier?
- JavierSí, Elena, es mejor así.Yes, Elena, it is better that way.
- ElenaMuchas gracias por la información.Thank you very much for the information.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dos, día, CC BY-SA 4.0.
