cada vez
Lemma Details
Translation: each time; every time; increasingly
Part of Speech: adverbial phrase
Etymology: Composed of 'cada' (each, every) and 'vez' (time, occasion). 'Cada' evolved from Latin 'cata' meaning 'according to' or 'by', which was borrowed from Greek 'kata'. 'Vez' comes from Latin 'vicem' (accusative of 'vicis'), meaning 'change', 'alternation', or 'succession'. The combination creates a temporal expression indicating repetition or progression.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Cada vez que voy a España, visito el Museo del Prado.
Every time I go to Spain, I visit the Prado Museum.
El problema se hace cada vez más grave.
The problem is becoming increasingly serious.
Cada vez hay menos personas que hablan esta lengua.
There are fewer and fewer people who speak this language.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'cada' as 'each' and 'vez' as 'time' - literally 'each time'
- For the 'increasingly' meaning, imagine something happening 'each time' with greater intensity
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is extremely common in everyday Spanish conversation and writing. It's used both to indicate repetition ('each time') and progression ('increasingly'), making it a versatile expression that appears in many contexts from casual conversation to formal writing.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Cada vez' means 'each time' or 'every time' indicating consistency, while 'a veces' means 'sometimes' indicating occasional occurrence.
Confused word:
A veces llueve en verano.
Sometimes it rains in summer.
Notes: The distinction is important as 'cada vez' implies a consistent pattern or rule, while 'a veces' implies irregularity or occasional occurrence.
Mnemonic: 'Cada vez' has 'cada' (each/every) so it's about ALL instances; 'a veces' has 'veces' (times) in plural, suggesting SOME instances.
Explanation: 'Cada vez' indicates 'every time' something happens, while 'de vez en cuando' means 'occasionally' or 'from time to time'.
Notes: 'Cada vez' often introduces a cause-effect relationship, while 'de vez en cuando' simply describes frequency.
Mnemonic: 'Cada vez' is about consistency (EVERY time), while 'de vez en cuando' literally means 'from time to time' suggesting irregularity.