How to Use “Às vezes” in Portuguese for Frequency

Introduction

Às vezes is a common Portuguese expression used to talk about frequency. It is essential for learners to express how often something happens, from daily routines to occasional events. This article explains when and how to use às vezes in Brazilian Portuguese with clear grammar rules, sentence patterns, examples, and usage notes to help you sound natural.

What does Às vezes mean?

Às vezes translates roughly as sometimes or occasionally in English. It indicates that an action happens on some occasions but not always. It is less frequent than sempre (always) and mais vezes/ muitas vezes (often/many times), and more frequent than raramente or quase nunca (rarely/almost never).

Literal structure and components

The phrase às vezes combines the preposition a, the definite article as, and the plural noun vezes (times). Grammatically it is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverb of frequency in a sentence. You will often find it at the beginning, middle, or end of a clause without changing meaning.

Where to place Às vezes in a sentence

Placement of às vezes is flexible. It can appear in different positions depending on emphasis and style. Below are the common placements with examples in Brazilian Portuguese.

Beginning of the sentence

Putting às vezes at the start gives a general statement about frequency and is very natural in spoken and written Portuguese.

Exemplo:
Aàs vezes eu chego tarde no trabalho.

Before the verb

Placing às vezes before the verb adds a smooth rhythm and is common in conversational speech.

Exemplo:
Eu às vezes estudo à noite.

After the verb or at the end

When you put às vezes after the verb or at the end, it feels slightly more informal and can emphasize the verb action.

Exemplo:
Ela come fora às vezes.

Grammar: agreement, contractions, and pronunciation

Although às vezes looks like it might change with gender or number, it is a fixed expression and does not agree with the subject. However, its written form reveals a contraction and accent that are important to get right.

Contraction of a + as

The preposition a plus the article as contracts to às, written with a grave accent. This distinguishes it from a (to) and as (the plural feminine article). The grave accent indicates crasis, the contraction of two identical vowels a + a. So correct form is às and not a as or as vezes.

Pronunciation tips

Pronounce às vezes as azz vehz-iss or ahs VEH-zez depending on regional accent. The grave accent on às signals that the initial a is stressed and linked to the definite article sound. Native speakers often reduce the vowel slightly in rapid speech, but keep the linkage between às and vezes.

Verb tense and aspect with Às vezes

Às vezes does not determine verb tense. You can use it with present, past, future, or perfect constructions. The choice of tense conveys when the occasional event happens relative to now.

Present tense

Use present tense to describe habitual or repeated actions that still occur.

Exemplos:
Eu às vezes pego um táxi para ir ao trabalho.
Ele às vezes fala comigo sobre futebol.

Past tense

Use past tenses (pretérito perfeito, pretérito imperfeito) to describe occasional actions that happened in the past.

Exemplos:
Quando eu morava lá, às vezes eu visitava minha avó aos domingos.
No ano passado, às vezes fomos ao cinema à noite.

Future and conditional

You can also use às vezes with future or conditional forms to describe occasional future events or hypothetical situations.

Exemplos:
No futuro, às vezes vou viajar a trabalho.
Se tiver tempo, às vezes eu aceitaria esse convite.

Common sentence patterns with Às vezes

Below are useful sentence frames you can memorize and adapt. Each pattern shows how às vezes interacts with subjects, verbs, and complements.

Pattern: Subject + às vezes + verb + complement

Eu às vezes como em restaurantes caros.

Pattern: Às vezes + subject + verb + complement

Às vezes ela estuda música à noite.

Pattern: Subject + verb + complement + às vezes

Nós viajamos no verão às vezes.

Pattern: Às vezes + verb + complement (imperative or recommendations)

Às vezes tente relaxar antes de dormir.

Related frequency adverbs and comparison

Understanding related adverbs helps you choose the right degree of frequency. Here are common adverbs and where às vezes fits between them.

• sempre — always

• frequentemente / muitas vezes — often / many times

• às vezes — sometimes / occasionally

• raramente / quase nunca — rarely / almost never

You can use qualifiers to make às vezes stronger or weaker. For example, muito às vezes is not idiomatic; instead use muitas vezes for often. To emphasize rarity, pair raramente or quase nunca instead of modifying às vezes.

Negative sentences and questions

Às vezes works well in negatives and questions. The negative marker typically appears before the verb or after the subject.

Negative

Use não to negate the verb — placement of às vezes remains flexible.

Exemplos:
Eu não às vezes como carne. (less natural)
Eu às vezes não como carne. (more natural)

Questions

In questions, place às vezes where it sounds most natural. Often it follows the subject or goes at the beginning for emphasis.

Exemplos:
Às vezes você vai ao teatro?
Você às vezes estuda sozinho?

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Beginners make a few predictable errors with às vezes. Here are the key pitfalls and how to correct them.

Incorrect contraction

Do not write a vezes or as vezes without the contraction às when you mean to say sometimes. The correct form is às vezes.

Wrong placement of não

Putting não in the wrong place can create awkward or unclear sentences. A natural order is subject + às vezes + não + verb, or subject + não + verb + às vezes if you want to negate the action more strongly.

Confusing with every day expressions

Às vezes is not interchangeable with todo dia or todos os dias (every day). Use às vezes when an action occurs sometimes, not always.

Cultural and usage notes

In Brazilian Portuguese, às vezes is very common in conversation and informal writing. Brazilians often use it when narrating personal experiences, giving opinions, or softening statements. It can make a comment less absolute and therefore more polite or humble.

Also note regional speech patterns: in some areas people may drop the definite article sound slightly, producing a softer linking sound, but the written form remains the same. In casual speech, you may hear reduced vowels or elisions; learning to recognize these will help your listening comprehension.

How to sound natural when using Às vezes

To sound natural, listen for rhythm and intonation. Native speakers often stress the verb or the complement rather than the phrase às vezes. Practice by repeating short sentences and varying placement to find the flow that matches Brazilian speech patterns.

Tip: Pair às vezes with time expressions like hoje, ontem, or hoje à noite to specify context. Example: Hoje à noite, às vezes eu saio com amigos.

Examples from everyday conversation

Here are realistic sentences you might hear or use in Brazil.

Exemplos:
Maria: Às vezes eu trabalho até tarde.
João: Eu também.
Gosto de ir à praia às vezes nos fins de semana.
Você às vezes cozinha em casa ou pede comida?

Short summary of rules

Use às vezes to indicate occasional frequency. It is a fixed prepositional phrase formed by contraction of a + as + vezes. Place it at the start, before the verb, or at the end of the clause. It works with all tenses and in questions or negatives. Avoid writing the phrase without the contraction and do not confuse it with daily frequency expressions.

Conclusion

Às vezes is a versatile and commonly used expression that helps you talk about occasional actions in Brazilian Portuguese. With flexible placement, simple rules for contraction, and compatibility with different verb tenses, mastering às vezes will make your speech sound more natural and nuanced. Practice listening and speaking to internalize natural rhythms and variations.