hace mucho tiempo
/aθe mut͡ʃo tjempo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "a long time ago" is translated into Spanish as hace mucho tiempo.
hace mucho tiempo is used to refer to a point in the distant past. You can also use the form hace mucho tiempo atrás to add emphasis to how far back in the past the event occurred.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it makes much time". In this construction, hace is the third-person singular form of the verb hacer, which means "to make" or "to do".
Which one should you use?
You may encounter hace mucho tiempo atrás when a speaker wants to emphasize the distance of the time passed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the informal expression hace un chingo de tiempo is used to convey a significant length of time. In Spain, you may hear the informal expression hace la tira de tiempo to indicate a considerable duration.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which uses the word "ago" to indicate past time, Spanish uses the verb hacer to express the passage of time.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Eso pasó hace mucho tiempo.That was such a long time ago.This sentence shows how to state that an event happened a long time ago using hace mucho tiempo.Tatoeba #1634576 by marcelostockle, translation #10077686 by shekitten
- Renuncié hace mucho tiempo.I quit a long time ago.This sentence uses hace mucho tiempo to describe when a person quit a job.Tatoeba #4442920 by pchamorro, translation #2389911 by CK
- Tom murió hace mucho tiempo.Tom died a long time ago.This sentence uses hace mucho tiempo to indicate when someone passed away.Tatoeba #2993927 by marcelostockle, translation #2644946 by CK
- Hace mucho tiempo, en una pequeña ciudad, vivía una princesa encantadora.A long time ago, in a small town, lived a charming princess.
- Hace siglos, los antiguos romanos construyeron magníficos acueductos.Centuries ago, the ancient Romans built magnificent aqueducts.
- En tiempos remotos, las civilizaciones mesoamericanas desarrollaron avanzados sistemas de escritura.In remote times, Mesoamerican civilizations developed advanced writing systems.
- Hace mil años, vivían los vikingos en estas tierras.A thousand years ago, the Vikings lived in these lands.
- En la antigüedad, los mayas eran conocidos por su calendario altamente preciso.In ancient times, the Maya were known for their highly accurate calendar.
- No voy allí desde hace la tira de tiempo.I haven't been there in a long time.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their childhood memories at a cafe.
- Mateo¿Vivías en esta ciudad hace mucho tiempo?Did you live in this city a long time ago?
- ElenaSí, viví aquí hace mucho tiempo, cuando era niña.Yes, I lived here a long time ago, when I was a girl.
- MateoParece que fue hace mucho tiempo.It seems like it was a long time ago.
- ElenaRealmente sí, los años pasan rápido.It really was, the years go by fast.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hace, mucho, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
