Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Instead in Spanish: En vez de, En lugar de, and En cambio
En vez de · adverb / prepositional phrase · en VETH deh (Spain) / en VES deh (Latin America)
En vez de is the standard Spanish translation for instead of. Use en lugar de as a synonym or en cambio when instead appears on its own to signal a contrast.
en VETH deh / en VES deh
En vez de quejarte, busca una solución.
Instead of complaining, look for a solution.
Instead in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for instead, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| en vez de | instead | en VETH deh (Spain) / en VES deh (Latin America) | Default, widely understood |
| en lugar de | instead | in place of | |
| en cambio | instead | on the other hand, instead |
How Native Speakers Use En vez de
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Substitution
Usé mantequilla en vez de aceite para la receta.
I used butter instead of oil for the recipe.
Swapping one ingredient for another while cooking.
Suggestion
En lugar de tomar un taxi, caminemos; está cerca.
Instead of taking a taxi, let's walk; it's close by.
Proposing an alternative plan.
Contrast with en cambio
Ella no quiso ir al cine; en cambio, prefirió leer.
She didn't want to go to the movies; instead, she preferred to read.
Presenting what someone chose to do as a contrast.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using En vez de
Missing de after en vez
Incorrect: En vez estudiar, jugó videojuegos.
Correct: En vez de estudiar, jugó videojuegos.
En vez always requires the preposition de before the thing being replaced. Without de, the phrase is grammatically incomplete.
Using en vez de where en cambio fits
Incorrect: No llovió; en vez de, hizo sol.
Correct: No llovió; en cambio, hizo sol.
When instead stands alone to introduce a contrasting statement, use en cambio. En vez de needs a noun or infinitive after it.
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Common Questions About Instead in Spanish
- Is there any difference between en vez de and en lugar de?
- They are interchangeable in most contexts. En lugar de is slightly more formal, but both are perfectly natural in speech and writing.
- When should I use en cambio?
- Use en cambio when instead appears by itself to introduce a contrasting clause, without a direct of + noun structure. It functions like however or on the other hand.
- Can I use en vez de with a conjugated verb?
- En vez de is followed by an infinitive, not a conjugated verb. Say en vez de comer (instead of eating), not en vez de comes.