How to say every other day in Spanish is what this blog post teach you. In Colombia, I practice an “artes marciales” (martial arts) called “jiu-jitsu brasileño” (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). “Jiu-jitsu brasileño” is very popular in the States and also Brazil – as its name implies. And it is becoming popular in Colombia.
Last night, an American came to visit the “academia de jiu-jitsu brasileño” where I train. I noticed 3 mistakes that he made while speaking Spanish. Let me share one of them with you now — because they are very common mistakes and I want you to be aware of them. Let’s say his name is “Sam” (not his real name to protect his privacy)
A couple of the Colombian guys who I train with asked Sam Joe how often does he train.
In Sam’s attempt to say “every other day” in Spanish he incorrectly said:
- Cada otro día.
How To Say Every Other Day In Spanish
When Sam responded “cada otro día” the two Colombian guys looked at each other as if they were thinking “do you understand what this Gringo is trying to say?” And then the two Colombian guys looked at me at the same time as if they wanted to say to me, “Patrick, you’re a Gringo too. Do you understand him?”
And I said to the two Colombians, “día por medio.” “Día por medio” is the correct way to say “every other day” in Spanish.
WARNING: Do NOT try to translate in your head what does “día por medio” literally mean in English.
I have tried this and it only confused me more.
If you prefer a way to say “every other day” in Spanish that is closer to the way we say it in English,
here’s another way to say “every other day” in Spanish:
- Cada dos días – every other day
“Cada dos días” literally means “every two days.”
- Voy al gimnasio cada dos días.
- Voy al gimnasio día por medio.
- I go to the gym every other day.
Look at these sentences:
- Viajo a Bogotá cada dos semanas.
- Viajo a Bogotá semana por medio.
- I travel to Bogota every two weeks.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Él compra un carro nuevo cada tres años.
- He buys a new car every three years.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Yo visito la capital cada dos años.
- Yo visito la capital año por medio.
- I visit the capital every other year.
By the way, there’s another way to say “every other day” in Spanish –but it is not as commonly used in
Latin America – actually, I should say that “it is not as commonly used in Colombia” — as “día por medio”
and “cada dos días.” And it is:
- Un día sí y otro no — every other day
- (Literally, “one day yes and the other no”)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Yo hago ejercicios un día sí y otro no.
- I exercise every other day.
In my next blog post, I will tell you about the other 2 mistakes that Sam made. Click Here to read Part 2 of this blog post.
