Una y otra vez

Question

So we all know otra vez means, de nuevo, again.

So does una y otra vez mean, once or another? Like, I tried, and I tried.

Yo lo he intentado una y otra vez.

I tried and I tried.

Answer 1

It's "Lo he intentado una Y otra vez", not "una u otra vez" (You don't say "I have tried time Or time again", do ya?)

I don't translate ever, so I don't assume one thing will be similar to another between the languages since they often aren't. Gracias. - jeezzle, May 29, 2011

I commend you for that, but there are instances in which some "rules" are pretty much the same. - Oramasdude, May 29, 2011

Answer 2

(Yo) lo he intentado una y otra vez.

I have tried several times.

You seem to be obsessed with minor differences in translation. Poets and novelists may rework their phrasing many times (changing a word here and there to achieve exactly the right tone) but normal people are quite sloppy in their choice of words (basically going with whatever pops into their minds at the moment).

Can distinctions be drawn between/among translations? Almost certainly? Were those differences intended by the speaker? Probably not.

Answer 3

Let's not split hairs. Most of the answers are right, to some degree. However, una y otra vez means time and time again, or time and again. Your example I have tried it time and again, or I have tried time, and time again.

Or time and again - Rey55, May 29, 2011

Answer 4

I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but don't see how the spanish "o" meaning "or" could ever be translated to mean "and".

Ok then. - jeezzle, May 29, 2011