Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"Long time no see" in Spanish: ¡cuánto tiempo!
¡cuánto tiempo!
Long time no see in Spanish is ¡cuánto tiempo! It flags a happy reunion. Add sin vernos for ¡cuánto tiempo sin vernos!
Street reunion
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How to pronounce ¡cuánto tiempo!
Say it
KWAHN-toh tee-EHM-poh
/ˈkwanto ˈtjempo/
KWAHN-toh tee-EHM-poh. The u after c is silent in cuánto. Stress KWAHN and EHM.
"Long time no see" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ¡cuánto tiempo! | long time no see! Default reunion line. | Default reunion line. |
| cuánto tiempo sin vernos | long time without seeing each other Fuller version. | Fuller version. |
| tanto tiempo | so long / it's been a while Short alternative. | Short alternative. |
| ¡cuánto tiempo, amigo! | long time no see, friend! Adds a warm address. | Adds a warm address. |
How to use ¡cuánto tiempo! in real life
- 1Street reunion
¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Cómo estás?
Long time no see! How are you?
Immediate follow-up question.
- 2Office hallway
¡Cuánto tiempo! Pensé que te habías mudado.
Long time no see! I thought you'd moved.
Surprise tone.
- 3Family party
Tía, ¡cuánto tiempo sin vernos!
Aunt, long time no see!
Fuller phrase with family.
Mistakes English speakers make with ¡cuánto tiempo!
Incorrect: Cuanto tiempo (no accent).
Correct: ¡Cuánto tiempo!
Write the accent: cuánto. It marks the question word.
Incorrect: Mucho tiempo no veo (word-for-word).
Correct: ¡Cuánto tiempo!
Spanish uses cuánto tiempo, not a literal long-time-no-see calque.
Good to know
Good to know¡Cuánto tiempo! often brings a hug, then a quick catch-up. Tanto tiempo means the same idea.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Running into a classmate downtown
ChatPal
¡Hola! ¡Cuánto tiempo!
Hi! Long time no see!
You
¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Sigues en la misma oficina?
Long time no see! Still at the same office?
ChatPal
Sí. ¿Tomamos un café?
Yes. Shall we grab a coffee?
You
Dale, tengo veinte minutos.
Sure, I've got twenty minutes.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Long time no see" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Long time no see" in Spanish
How do you say long time no see in Spanish?
¡Cuánto tiempo!
Do I need the accent on cuánto?
Yes—cuánto as a question word takes an accent.
What does sin vernos add?
It spells out "without seeing each other."
Is this formal or casual?
Casual and friendly; fine with acquaintances too.
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