Always, Never, Sometimes: Use Spanish adverbs of frequency — siempre, nunca, a veces

How often do you drink coffee? Do you always set an alarm? In Spanish, these everyday ideas are super easy with three adverbs: siempre (always), nunca (never), and a veces (sometimes). In this lesson, you’ll learn what they mean, where to put them, and how to sound natural in real conversations.

Meet the adverbs: siempre, nunca, a veces

These are high-frequency words you’ll hear in daily life. Use them to talk about routines, habits, and plans.

  • siempre = always
  • nunca = never
  • a veces = sometimes

Spanish tip: You can often place them before the verb. Example: "Siempre desayuno." = "I always have breakfast."

siempre
always
adverb
Siempre estudio español por la noche.
I always study Spanish at night.
nunca
never
adverb
Nunca tomo azúcar en el café.
I never take sugar in coffee.
a veces
sometimes
adverb
A veces corro en el parque.
Sometimes I run in the park.

Real-life examples

  • Siempre llego temprano. = I always arrive early.
  • Nunca veo la televisión por la mañana. = I never watch TV in the morning.
  • A veces cocino con mis amigos. = Sometimes I cook with my friends.

Notice how the adverb can also go at the beginning (A veces cocino...) or before the verb (Siempre llego...).

Yo desayuno.

Great! That was easy. Here’s one more with a negative idea. Remember: with "nunca," you can say either "Nunca + verb" or "No + verb + nunca."

No voy al gimnasio.

Use them in small talk

In casual conversation, these words help you talk about habits.

  • ¿Con qué frecuencia…? = How often…?
  • Siempre. = Always.
  • Nunca. = Never.
  • A veces. = Sometimes.

Example:

  • ¿Con qué frecuencia estudias español? = How often do you study Spanish?
  • A veces estudio por la mañana, pero siempre por la noche. = I sometimes study in the morning, but always at night.

Tip: "Nunca" can sound very strong. If you want to soften it, try "casi nunca" (= almost never). It’s common and polite.

Spanish
A veces trabajo desde casa.
Sometimes I work from home.
Spanish
Nunca desayuno los domingos.
I never eat breakfast on Sundays.
Spanish
Siempre tomo agua con la comida.
I always drink water with meals.
🧠 Choose the best option

Word sense: “a veces”

"A veces" literally comes from "a" (to/at) + "veces" (times). Think of it as "at times" or "sometimes."

a preposition (to/at) veces plural of "vez" (time/occasion)
🔠 Put the words in order

Make a natural Spanish sentence about shopping on Sundays.

Cultural note

In many Spanish-speaking places, using "siempre" or "nunca" can feel very strong. If you want to be more flexible or polite, you might say:

  • Normalmente… = Usually…
  • Casi nunca… = Almost never…
  • A veces… = Sometimes…

Examples:

  • Normalmente desayuno en casa, pero a veces salgo. = I usually eat breakfast at home, but sometimes I go out.
  • Casi nunca uso el coche en el centro. = I almost never use the car downtown.

This matches real conversation patterns: people avoid extremes unless they mean them!

Yo no nunca estudio. → Yo nunca estudio. You can also say: "No estudio nunca." Avoid placing "no" directly before "nunca" + verb.

Mini conversation practice

Put the conversation in a logical order. Focus on how "siempre, nunca, a veces" shape meaning.

💬 Rutinas de ejercicio

Quick check: Can you say it?

Try these aloud:

  • Siempre estudio después de cenar. = I always study after dinner.
  • A veces voy en bici al trabajo. = I sometimes ride a bike to work.
  • No uso el teléfono nunca en clase. = I never use the phone in class.

Notice the two patterns for "nunca": "Nunca uso…" or "No uso… nunca." Both are correct.

Summary

  • siempre = always; strong and clear: "Siempre como en casa."
  • nunca = never; can be strong; use "casi nunca" to soften.
  • a veces = sometimes; flexible position in the sentence.

Placement:

  • Before the verb is easy: "Siempre estudio," "Nunca manejo," "A veces trabajo."
  • Beginning is common: "A veces voy al cine." / "Nunca como carne."
  • With "nunca" after the verb, use "no" before: "No como carne nunca."

You’re ready to talk about habits and routines like a friendly local. ¡Sigue practicando! Keep practicing!