há quanto tempo
/ˈa ˈkwɐ̃.tu ˈtẽ.pu/
In Portuguese, "long time no see" is expressed as há quanto tempo.
The phrase há quanto tempo is an idiomatic greeting used when you see someone after a long period of absence. While it is grammatically structured as a question, it is frequently used as an exclamation to express surprise at seeing the person. You should avoid using the literal translation há muito tempo sem ver você, as it is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
Meaning: idiomatic: I (or we) have not seen you for a long time (intj)
Which one should you use?
Use há quanto tempo! as an idiomatic greeting when encountering someone. In contrast, the phrase Faz muito tempo is a neutral statement used to describe the passage of time rather than as a greeting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, you may hear the informal expression E aí, sumidão? as a variation of E aí, sumido(a)?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈa ˈkwɐ̃.tu ˈtẽ.pu/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word quanto is a linguistic relative of the English scientific term 'quantum', as both derive from the Latin word for 'how much'.
- In a social setting, responding to há quanto tempo! often involves a physical embrace or a kiss on the cheek, regardless of how long the absence actually was.
- The term sumido (meaning 'disappeared') used in the greeting E aí, sumido? is often used as a playful accusation to make the other person feel slightly guilty for not visiting.
Examples in context
- Ei, há quanto tempo!Hey, long time no see.This example shows a casual greeting using há quanto tempo.Tatoeba #4806718 by bill, translation #3575393 by CK
- Há quanto tempo não nos vemos, Tom.Long time no see, Tom.This sentence shows how to use há quanto tempo to address a specific person.Tatoeba #9722929 by carlosalberto, translation #9722848 by shekitten
- Há quanto tempo!Long time, no see.This demonstrates using há quanto tempo as a short exclamation.Tatoeba #2752572 by carlosalberto, translation #417003 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe run into each other at a cafe.
- BeatrizFelipe, há quanto tempo!Felipe, long time no see!
- FelipeOi, Beatriz! É verdade, faz muito tempo.Hi, Beatriz! It's true, it's been a long time.
- BeatrizVocê está muito bem.You look very well.
- FelipeObrigado, você também está ótima.Thank you, you look great too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “long time no see” translations and entries há quanto tempo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries há, quanto, tempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
