vezes

Vez is a noun in Portuguese that can refer to a time, occasion, or turn within a sequence or activity. Its plural form, vezes, is used to express multiple occurrences or repeated actions. In everyday language, a few common expressions show its range: uma vez (one time), duas vezes (two times), and quantas vezes (how many times).

Vezes is also employed in mathematics and practical counting to mean multiplication, as in quatro vezes cinco equals vinte, or 3 vezes 4 is 12. In this context, the word functions as a technical term for “times” or “multiples” in expressions of quantity.

Several idiomatic phrases help distinguish its use. De vez em quando means occasionally. Em vez de means instead of. Na minha vez refers to the speaker’s turn. The phrase pela primeira vez or pela última vez means for the first or last time, respectively. These usages illustrate how vez and vezes connect time, order, and frequency in Portuguese.

Origin-wise, vez is a native Portuguese word with roots in the Latin tradition of Romance languages; it is cognate with the Spanish vez. Across the Portuguese-speaking world, including Portugal and Brazil, the word retains similar meanings, though regional preferences can influence phrasing and nuance.

Overall, vez and vezes are versatile terms central to expressing time, sequence, and repetition, as well as serving specific mathematical and idiomatic functions in Portuguese.