When learning a new language, it’s important to have a grasp of basic vocabulary that helps express time. One such word in English is “ago”. In this guide, we will explore how to say “ago” in Spanish, covering both formal and informal ways. We will also touch upon any regional variations, although the focus will be on the standard usage of the language. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways of Saying “Ago” in Spanish
Formal language is commonly used in professional settings, official documents, or when addressing someone with whom you have a certain level of respect. Here are some formal equivalents of “ago” in Spanish:
Hace
The most common way to express “ago” in Spanish is by using the word “hace”. Here are a few examples:
Hace una semana – A week ago
Hace dos meses – Two months ago
Hace cinco años – Five years ago
Desde hace
If you want to emphasize the duration of time that has passed, you can use the phrase “desde hace” followed by the time period. Here are some examples:
Desde hace mucho tiempo – A long time ago
Desde hace tres días – Three days ago
Desde hace diez años – Ten years ago
Informal Ways of Saying “Ago” in Spanish
Informal language is commonly used among friends, family, or in casual conversations. While the formal equivalents mentioned above can also be used in informal contexts, there are a few more options commonly used in everyday speech:
Hace + time
Similar to formal language, you can use “hace” followed by a time expression to indicate “ago” in an informal setting. Here are a few examples:
Hace una semana – A week ago
Hace dos meses – Two months ago
Hace cinco años – Five years ago
Time + atrás
In informal conversations, you can use “atrás” after a time expression to convey the meaning of “ago”. Here are some examples:
Una semana atrás – A week ago
Dos meses atrás – Two months ago
Cinco años atrás – Five years ago
Examples of Using “Ago” in Spanish
Let’s now explore some contextual examples to further understand how to use “ago” in different sentences:
Using “Hace” in Context
- Hace tres días que llegué a Madrid. – I arrived in Madrid three days ago.
- Vinieron a visitarme hace dos semanas. – They came to visit me two weeks ago.
- Hace mucho tiempo que no nos vemos. – It’s been a long time since we last saw each other.
Using “Desde hace” in Context
- Trabajo en esta empresa desde hace diez años. – I’ve been working in this company for ten years.
- Estudio francés desde hace seis meses. – I have been studying French for six months.
- Vivo en esta ciudad desde hace bastante tiempo. – I have been living in this city for quite some time.
Using Informal Expressions in Context
- Llegué hace una semana y ya me siento como en casa. – I arrived a week ago, and already feel at home.
- Fui de vacaciones dos meses atrás. – I went on vacation two months ago.
- Vi a Ana en una fiesta hace cinco años. – I saw Ana at a party five years ago.
Remember, using the appropriate expression for “ago” in Spanish can vary based on the context and your relationship with the person you are speaking to. Feel free to mix and match these examples to suit your needs!
Conclusion
In this guide, we have covered various ways to say “ago” in Spanish, including both formal and informal language. The most common term used is “hace”, which can be combined with different time expressions to convey the desired meaning. In informal contexts, “atrás” can also be added after a time expression. Remember, practice makes perfect, so take these examples and use them in your own conversations to become more fluent in Spanish. ¡Buena suerte!
