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'Once', 'twice', 'sometimes': counting occasions with 'vez'

English uses one word, time, for three quite different ideas: how long something lasts (I don't have time), what the clock says (What time is it?) and how many times something happens (I've been there three times). Spanish splits these up. When you count occasions or say how often something happens, you normally need vez, not tiempo.

This small word is behind many everyday expressions: una vez (once), dos veces (twice), otra vez (again), a veces (sometimes), cada vez (every time). English speakers often reach for tiempo because it looks like the natural translation of time. In all of these expressions, it is the wrong word.

Word list
a vecesA1 sometimes a veces = sometimes algunas vecesA1 sometimes algunas veces = sometimes muchas vecesA1 often muchas veces = many times cada vezA2 every time cada vez = every time de vez en cuandoA2 sometimes de vez en cuando = from time to time dos vecesA2 twice dos veces = twice otra vezA2 again otra vez = again rara vezA2 rarely rara vez = rarely raras vecesA2 rarely raras veces = rarely una vezA2 once una vez = once una vez másA2 again una vez más = once more a la vezB1 at the same time a la vez = at the same time cada vez mayorB1 increasing cada vez mayor = ever bigger una y otra vezB1 repeatedly una y otra vez = over and over, time and again de una vez por todasB2 once and for all de una vez por todas = once and for all
How it works

Ask yourself one question: can I count it? If the English time means an occasion, one of several repetitions, Spanish uses vez. If it means a stretch of time, use tiempo. If it means the hour on the clock, use hora. The word ocasión also exists for occasions, but it sounds more formal, and the everyday choice is vez.

Watch the spelling of the plural: vez becomes veces, with z changing to c before e. The word is feminine, so you say una vez, muchas veces, la primera vez.

He estado en México dos veces.
(I've been to Mexico twice.)

Compare: No tengo tiempo (I don't have time) and ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?). Neither of these is about counting, so neither uses vez.

The words
Counting and repeating

Una vez means once and dos veces means twice. From three upwards, just add the number: tres veces, diez veces. For again, use otra vez or una vez más (once more).

Solo lo he visto una vez.
(I've only seen him once.)
¿Puedes repetirlo otra vez, por favor?
(Can you repeat it again, please?)
Vamos a intentarlo una vez más.
(Let's try it once more.)
How often

A veces and algunas veces both mean sometimes. De vez en cuando is the equivalent of from time to time. Muchas veces means often, literally many times. For rarely, say rara vez or raras veces.

A veces voy al gimnasio dos veces por semana.
(Sometimes I go to the gym twice a week.)
Algunas veces comemos en casa de mis abuelos.
(Sometimes we eat at my grandparents' house.)
De vez en cuando llamo a mi hermano.
(I call my brother from time to time.)
Muchas veces llego tarde al trabajo.
(I'm often late for work.)
Mi padre rara vez ve la televisión.
(My father rarely watches television.)
Every time

Cada vez means every time or each time. Cada vez más means more and more, and cada vez mayor means increasing or growing.

Cada vez que llueve, se me olvida el paraguas.
(Every time it rains, I forget my umbrella.)
El problema es cada vez mayor.
(The problem is getting bigger and bigger.)
Fixed phrases

A la vez means at the same time, in the sense of on one single occasion. De una vez por todas means once and for all.

No puedo hablar y escribir a la vez.
(I can't talk and write at the same time.)
Vamos a arreglar esto de una vez por todas.
(Let's sort this out once and for all.)
Watch out
  • The classic mistake is *otro tiempo for again. Always say otra vez. In the same way, the first time is la primera vez, never *el primer tiempo.
  • To ask how many times, say ¿Cuántas veces?, not *¿Cuánto tiempo?. That second question means how long.
  • For rates, you can say dos veces por semana or dos veces a la semana. Both are correct.
  • Tal vez (maybe) and en vez de (instead of) also contain vez, but they have nothing to do with counting occasions. Learn them as separate expressions.
  • Not every English time needs a single Spanish word. I had a good time is usually lo pasé bien.
Summary

If you can count it, use vez: una vez, dos veces, otra vez, a veces, cada vez. Use tiempo for how long something lasts and hora for the clock. The plural is veces, and again is always otra vez.