Instead
A direct synonym for 'en vez de'. Use it in exactly the same way to mean 'in place of' or 'instead of'.
Literally means 'better', but it's very common to use it like 'instead' or 'rather' to propose a better alternative. It often starts the suggestion.
I want water instead of juice, please.
Today I'm working from home instead of going to the office.
We're not going to the beach. Let's go to the movies instead.
He eats chicken instead of red meat.
The phrases 'en vez de' and 'en lugar de' are standard and universally understood across the entire Spanish-speaking world, including Spain and all of Latin America. There is no significant regional variation for this term.
In these countries, as in others, both 'en vez de' and 'en lugar de' are used interchangeably in daily conversation. Using 'mejor' to mean 'rather' or 'instead' is also extremely common.
Dropping the 'de'. Incorrect: 'Quiero té en vez café'. You must include 'de' when specifying the alternative. Correct: 'Quiero té en vez de café'.
Confusing 'en vez de' with 'a veces'. 'A veces' means 'sometimes' and sounds similar, but has a completely different meaning. 'A veces como pollo' (Sometimes I eat chicken) is different from 'Como pollo en vez de pescado' (I eat chicken instead of fish).
Using it at the end of a sentence like in English. In English, you can say, 'I'll have tea instead.' In Spanish, 'Voy a tomar té en vez' is incorrect. You must state what you are replacing: 'Voy a tomar té en vez de café'.
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