de vez em quando

The Portuguese phrase de vez em quando is a cornerstone of daily communication, functioning as an adverbial locution of time. In English, it translates most accurately to 'from time to time,' 'occasionally,' or 'every now and then.' It describes actions that do not happen with strict regularity or high frequency, but occur often enough to be a recognized part of one's life or routine. Unlike the word 'sempre' (always) or 'frequentemente' (frequently), de vez em quando suggests a level of spontaneity or a lack of a fixed schedule. It is a versatile expression used across all social classes and regions, from the bustling streets of Lisbon to the vibrant neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. Understanding this phrase is essential for A2 learners because it allows you to qualify your habits and preferences with nuance, moving beyond simple binary descriptions of time.

Grammatical Category

Locução Adverbial de Tempo (Adverbial Locution of Time)

When you use this phrase, you are indicating a frequency that sits comfortably between 'raramente' (rarely) and 'às vezes' (sometimes). While 'às vezes' is often used for things that happen perhaps 40-50% of the time, de vez em quando often implies a slightly lower frequency, perhaps 20-30%, or simply highlights the interval between occurrences. It is composed of the preposition 'de' (from), the noun 'vez' (time/instance), the preposition 'em' (in), and the pronoun/adverb 'quando' (when). Literally, it translates to 'from time in when,' which sounds poetic but serves a very practical purpose in the language.

In social contexts, this phrase is used to soften statements or to avoid sounding too committed to a habit. If someone asks if you exercise, and you don't want to admit you're lazy but you aren't a gym rat, you might say, 'Eu corro de vez em quando.' It provides a safe middle ground. It is also used to express nostalgia or occasional indulgence, such as eating a specific traditional food or visiting a childhood home. The emotional weight of the phrase can vary; it can be dismissive or deeply sentimental depending on the tone of voice and the context of the conversation.

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Neutral/Informal. Suitable for both professional emails and casual chats.

Furthermore, the phrase is often used in the negative to emphasize that something happens even less frequently than expected, though this is less common. More often, it is used to describe healthy habits that aren't quite daily rituals. For example, 'De vez em quando, é bom tirar umas férias' (From time to time, it is good to take a vacation). This highlights the necessity of the occasional break. In literature, authors use it to create a sense of rhythm in a character's life, suggesting a pattern that is predictable yet not monotonous. It avoids the rigidity of 'every Monday' or 'daily' and embraces the fluid nature of human behavior.

Finally, it is worth noting that while 'às vezes' is its closest cousin, de vez em quando feels more like a complete thought or a standalone observation about a cycle. It is the perfect answer to 'Com que frequência...?' (How often...?) when you don't have a specific number of times in mind. It bridges the gap between the specific and the vague, providing enough information to be helpful without requiring the speaker to be precise. It is a linguistic tool for flexibility.

Using de vez em quando correctly requires an understanding of sentence structure in Portuguese. Unlike some adverbs that must sit next to the verb, this phrase is highly mobile. It can appear at the very beginning of a sentence to set the temporal stage, in the middle for emphasis, or at the end as an afterthought. This flexibility makes it one of the easiest frequency expressions for English speakers to master, as it mirrors the behavior of 'occasionally' or 'from time to time' in English syntax.

Sentence Placement

Can be placed at the start, after the verb, or at the end of the clause.

When placed at the beginning, it usually requires a comma for clarity: 'De vez em quando, eu visito meus avós.' This structure emphasizes the frequency itself. When placed at the end, 'Eu visito meus avós de vez em quando,' the focus is more on the action of visiting, with the frequency serving as a qualifying detail. Both are grammatically perfect and commonly used. In more formal writing, you might see it placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb, though this is less common in spoken Portuguese: 'Eu tenho, de vez em quando, visitado meus avós.'

It is also important to consider the verb tense. De vez em quando is most frequently paired with the Presente do Indicativo to describe current habits. However, it works beautifully with the Pretérito Imperfeito to describe past habits that were not daily but happened periodically: 'De vez em quando, nós íamos à praia quando éramos crianças' (From time to time, we used to go to the beach when we were children). It can even be used with the future tense to express a vague intention: 'Vou te ligar de vez em quando' (I will call you from time to time).

Common Verb Pairings

Ir (to go), Fazer (to do/make), Ver (to see), Comer (to eat), Viajar (to travel).

A common nuance involves the use of 'mas' (but). People often say, 'Eu não gosto de doces, mas como um chocolate de vez em quando.' Here, the phrase acts as a concession, indicating an exception to a general rule. This is a very common rhetorical device in Portuguese. It allows the speaker to maintain a general identity (someone who doesn't like sweets) while acknowledging human inconsistency. Mastering this 'exception-making' use of the phrase will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and less like a textbook.

In questions, the phrase can be used to inquire about the frequency of someone's actions in a non-confrontational way. 'Você fala com ele de vez em quando?' (Do you talk to him from time to time?) sounds much softer and less inquisitive than 'Com que frequência você fala com ele?' It implies that you don't expect the answer to be 'every day,' which can make the conversation feel more relaxed and less like an interrogation. This subtle social lubricant is why the phrase is so ubiquitous in the Lusophone world.

You will encounter de vez em quando in almost every corner of Portuguese-speaking life. In a domestic setting, you might hear a parent telling a child, 'Você pode comer doce de vez em quando, mas não todo dia.' In this context, it is used to set boundaries and teach the concept of moderation. It is the language of balance. If you are watching a Brazilian telenovela or a Portuguese soap opera, characters will use this phrase to describe their complicated relationships or their occasional lapses in judgment, adding a layer of relatability to their drama.

Social Contexts

Family dinners, casual workplace chats, doctor's appointments, and social media captions.

In the workplace, it’s used to describe tasks that aren't part of the daily grind but still occur. A manager might say, 'De vez em quando, precisamos fazer uma reunião extra.' This prepares the team for an occasional change in routine without causing the alarm that 'always' or 'frequently' might. It’s also common in medical contexts; a doctor might ask, 'Você sente essa dor de vez em quando ou é constante?' Here, the phrase is a diagnostic tool, helping to differentiate between chronic and episodic symptoms.

Music and literature are also rich with this expression. In Fado, the traditional Portuguese music known for its melancholy, the phrase often appears to describe the occasional return of a lost love or the sporadic feeling of 'saudade' (longing). In Brazilian Bossa Nova or MPB, it might be used more lightly to describe the occasional rain in Rio or a chance encounter on the beach. Because it deals with time and frequency—two fundamental human concerns—it is a favorite of songwriters who want to capture the ebb and flow of life's experiences.

Media Usage

Podcast hosts use it to transition between topics, and news anchors use it to describe seasonal weather patterns.

If you browse Portuguese-speaking social media, you'll see it in captions. A travel influencer might post a photo of a rainy day with the caption, 'De vez em quando, a chuva também é bem-vinda.' It adds a touch of authenticity and vulnerability, suggesting that life isn't always perfect or 'always' one way. It’s also used in memes to joke about things people do 'occasionally' but actually do all the time, or vice-versa. Its presence in digital culture proves its enduring relevance and its ability to adapt to modern modes of expression.

Finally, listen for it in the street. You will hear it in the 'chiado' of Lisbon and the 'r' of the interior of São Paulo. It is a unifying thread in the vast tapestry of the Portuguese language. Whether it's a fisherman talking about the tides or a tech worker talking about software updates, de vez em quando is the go-to phrase for anything that happens with a rhythmic, if unpredictable, frequency. It is the sound of the Portuguese clock, ticking not with mechanical precision, but with human irregularity.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with de vez em quando is trying to pluralize the word 'vez'. Because the phrase refers to multiple occasions over time, it’s tempting to say 'de vezes em quando'. However, this is grammatically incorrect. The phrase is a fixed locution, meaning its components do not change. It must always be 'vez', singular. Think of it as a single unit of meaning rather than four separate words. If you say 'de vezes', a native speaker will understand you, but it will immediately mark you as a beginner.

Mistake #1: Pluralization

Saying 'de vezes em quando' instead of 'de vez em quando'.

Another common error is the confusion between de vez em quando and 'às vezes'. While they are often interchangeable, they are not identical. 'Às vezes' literally means 'at times' and is often used for more frequent occurrences. De vez em quando has a slightly more 'sporadic' feel. Using 'às vezes' when you mean something that happens very rarely might sound slightly off. Furthermore, 'às vezes' always takes a grave accent (crase) on the 'à'. Forgetting this accent is a common spelling mistake for both learners and native speakers alike, but de vez em quando has no such accentual pitfalls, making it a 'safer' choice for writers.

Learners also sometimes confuse this phrase with 'de vez', which means 'once and for all' or 'finally'. For example, 'Ele saiu de vez' means he left and isn't coming back. If you add 'em quando', the meaning changes entirely to 'he leaves from time to time'. This is a critical distinction! Confusing the two can lead to significant misunderstandings in conversations about relationships, jobs, or living situations. Always remember that the 'em quando' part is what adds the 'repetitive but occasional' nature to the phrase.

Mistake #2: Preposition Confusion

Using 'da vez' or 'em vez' instead of the correct 'de vez'.

Lastly, some learners try to translate 'from time to time' literally as 'de tempo em tempo'. While 'de tempos em tempos' (note the plural here) is a valid Portuguese expression, it is much more formal and usually refers to longer intervals, like years or decades (e.g., 'De tempos em tempos, a economia muda'). For daily habits like drinking coffee, seeing friends, or watching a movie, 'de vez em quando' is the much more natural and common choice. Using the 'tempo' version in a casual conversation can make you sound like a history textbook rather than a friend.

To avoid these mistakes, practice saying the phrase as a single rhythmic unit: de-vez-em-quando. Don't overthink the individual words. By treating it as a single block of vocabulary, you'll naturally avoid the urge to pluralize or change the prepositions. Listen to how native speakers say it—often quite fast, with the words blending together—and try to mimic that flow. This will help cement the correct form in your muscle memory.

To truly enrich your Portuguese, it is helpful to know the synonyms and alternatives for de vez em quando. Each alternative carries a slightly different shade of meaning or level of formality. The most common synonym is às vezes. As mentioned before, this is very close in meaning but is perhaps used more for things that happen with a bit more regularity. If you do something 'às vezes', it’s a part of your life; if you do it 'de vez em quando', it might feel more like a sporadic treat or a random occurrence.

Às vezes vs. De vez em quando

'Às vezes' is slightly more frequent and very common in speech. 'De vez em quando' feels more episodic.

For a more formal or 'academic' tone, you can use ocasionalmente (occasionally) or esporadicamente (sporadically). These are perfect for writing reports, giving presentations, or in any situation where you want to sound more precise. 'Esporadicamente' specifically implies that there is no pattern at all—it’s totally random. Another great phrase, especially in Brazil, is vez ou outra. This literally means 'one time or another' and is very casual and charming. It’s often used when reminiscing: 'Vez ou outra, eu lembro daquela viagem.'

If you want to emphasize that something happens very rarely, you might move toward raramente or the idiomatic uma vez na vida, outra na morte (literally: 'once in life, another in death'). This is the Portuguese equivalent of 'once in a blue moon'. On the other end of the spectrum, if something happens more often than 'de vez em quando' but not 'sempre', you could use com frequência or frequentemente. Understanding this spectrum of frequency allows you to be much more descriptive in your storytelling.

Regional Variations

In some parts of Brazil, you might hear 'de quando em vez', which is a simple inversion of the phrase but means the exact same thing.

Another interesting alternative is por vezes. This is very common in European Portuguese (Portugal) and sounds slightly more literary or formal than 'às vezes'. It’s a great one to have in your receptive vocabulary if you are reading Portuguese news or literature. Finally, don't forget de tempos em tempos. As mentioned in the 'Common Mistakes' section, this is best reserved for longer cycles, like 'De tempos em tempos, o cometa passa pela Terra.' By choosing the right frequency word, you show that you understand not just the language, but the cultural perception of time.

In summary, while de vez em quando is your 'workhorse' phrase for occasional actions, experimenting with these alternatives will make you sound more sophisticated. Try replacing it with 'ocasionalmente' in your next writing exercise, or use 'vez ou outra' when chatting with a Brazilian friend. Each time you use a synonym correctly, you are building a more complex and colorful mental map of the Portuguese language.