When to use different phrases/words for "everywhere"

Hola Daniel B.

Great question! Spanish has several ways to say 'everywhere', and while they often mean the same thing, they can vary slightly in tone, context, or regional preference.

The most common and neutral options are "por todas partes" and "por todos lados". These are widely used in everyday conversation to express the idea of being surrounded by something or someone in every direction.

For example, you might say "Había gente por todas partes" or "Busqué por todos lados, pero no lo encontré". Both expressions work equally well, though "por todos lados" is more commonly heard in Latin America.

The word "dondequiera" can also mean 'everywhere', but it often has the sense of 'wherever' and is usually followed by a verb in the subjunctive. For instance, "Dondequiera que vayas, te seguiré" means 'Wherever you go, I’ll follow you'. This phrase is a bit more formal and less common in everyday speech.

Finally, "doquiera" and "por doquier" are more literary or poetic versions of 'everywhere'. These are mostly found in formal writing or elevated style. For example, "Había flores por doquier" is a beautiful way to say 'There were flowers everywhere'.

In short, if you're speaking naturally and casually, stick to "por todas partes" or "por todos lados". The others are great to recognize for reading or more formal contexts.

Hope that helps clarify things!

Let me know if you'd like more examples or practice sentences.

Feliz semana

Silvia