Learning to say common words and phrases in another language can help you communicate better and feel connected to a new culture. If you’re exploring French, you might want to know how to say “ago.” This word is simple but useful in daily conversations. Whether you’re talking about events, sharing stories, or explaining past experiences, knowing how to use “ago” in French can be very helpful.
In this article, we will show you how to say “ago” in French and use it naturally in sentences. We will also explore other ways to express similar ideas, learn how to respond to phrases that include “ago,” and practice with easy exercises. By the end, you will feel confident using “ago” when talking about time in French.
Ways to Say “Ago” in French
When discussing the past, the word “ago” is often used to talk about how much time has passed since something happened. In French, expressing “ago” is done in a slightly different way compared to English. Instead of a single word, phrases or structures are used to indicate time elapsed. Below, you’ll find various ways to say “ago” in French, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and examples of how to use them.
1. Il y a
Pronunciation: eel yah
Meaning: This is the most common way to say “ago” in French. It directly translates to “there is” but is used to express a time in the past.
In a Sentence:
- Il y a deux jours, j’ai vu un film. (Two days ago, I watched a movie.)
- Nous avons déménagé il y a cinq ans. (We moved five years ago.)
2. Cela fait
Pronunciation: suh-lah feh
Meaning: Literally translates to “it makes,” but it is also used to mean “ago” when talking about time.
In a Sentence:
- Cela fait trois semaines que je suis parti. (It has been three weeks since I left.)
- Cela fait un an qu’elle a déménagé. (It has been a year since she moved.)
3. Depuis
Pronunciation: duh-pwee
Meaning: Although “depuis” means “since,” it can sometimes imply “ago” depending on context.
In a Sentence:
- Depuis son départ, tout a changé. (Since his departure, everything has changed.)
- Je n’ai pas mangé depuis ce matin. (I haven’t eaten since this morning.)
4. Voilà
Pronunciation: vwah-lah
Meaning: Often used to indicate “here is” or “there is,” it can imply “ago” when combined with time expressions.
In a Sentence:
- Voilà six mois que je travaille ici. (It has been six months since I started working here.)
- Voilà deux jours qu’il est malade. (He has been sick for two days.)
5. Ça fait
Pronunciation: sah feh
Meaning: Another way to say “it has been,” which is used to express time in the past.
In a Sentence:
- Ça fait deux heures que je t’attends. (It has been two hours since I’ve been waiting for you.)
- Ça fait dix ans qu’ils sont amis. (They have been friends for ten years.)
6. Depuis que
Pronunciation: duh-pwee kuh
Meaning: Means “since” but can be used to refer to something that happened some time ago.
In a Sentence:
- Depuis qu’elle est partie, rien n’est pareil. (Since she left, nothing has been the same.)
- Depuis que j’ai fini mes études, je travaille ici. (Since I finished school, I’ve been working here.)
7. Autrefois
Pronunciation: oh-treh-fwah
Meaning: This word means “in the past” or “once,” used to describe something that happened long ago.
In a Sentence:
- Autrefois, il y avait des tramways ici. (Long ago, there were trams here.)
- Autrefois, les gens écrivaient des lettres. (In the past, people used to write letters.)
8. Jadis
Pronunciation: zhah-dees
Meaning: A more poetic way to say “long ago” or “in the old days.”
In a Sentence:
- Jadis, cette ville était prospère. (Long ago, this city was prosperous.)
- Jadis, il y avait un château ici. (Long ago, there was a castle here.)
9. D’antan
Pronunciation: dahn-tahn
Meaning: Means “of yesteryear” or “from long ago,” often used in a literary sense.
In a Sentence:
- Les chansons d’antan sont pleines de nostalgie. (The songs from long ago are full of nostalgia.)
- Les costumes d’antan étaient élégants. (The outfits from long ago were elegant.)
10. Auparavant
Pronunciation: oh-pah-rah-vahn
Meaning: Means “before” or “previously,” used to refer to a time in the past.
In a Sentence:
- Auparavant, ils vivaient dans un autre pays. (Before, they lived in another country.)
- Auparavant, nous avions des traditions différentes. (Previously, we had different traditions.)
11. Il y avait
Pronunciation: eel yah vay
Meaning: Means “there was” and can also refer to a time in the past.
In a Sentence:
- Il y avait une grande fête il y a deux semaines. (There was a big party two weeks ago.)
- Il y avait beaucoup de monde au marché ce matin. (There were many people at the market this morning.)
12. Depuis longtemps
Pronunciation: duh-pwee long-tahn
Meaning: Means “for a long time,” indicating something that has been the case for an extended period.
In a Sentence:
- Depuis longtemps, je voulais te parler. (I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time.)
- Ils travaillent ici depuis longtemps. (They have been working here for a long time.)
13. En ce temps-là
Pronunciation: ahn suh tahn lah
Meaning: Means “in those days” or “at that time,” referring to a specific point in the past.
In a Sentence:
- En ce temps-là, nous n’avions pas de téléphone. (In those days, we didn’t have telephones.)
- En ce temps-là, il faisait très froid en hiver. (At that time, winters were very cold.)
14. Une fois
Pronunciation: oon fwah
Meaning: Means “once” or “at one time,” often used in storytelling.
In a Sentence:
- Une fois, il a rencontré un écrivain célèbre. (Once, he met a famous writer.)
- Une fois, j’ai vu un renard dans le jardin. (One time, I saw a fox in the garden.)
15. Avant cela
Pronunciation: ah-vahn suh-lah
Meaning: Means “before that,” referring to a prior event or time.
In a Sentence:
- Avant cela, je vivais dans une autre ville. (Before that, I lived in another city.)
- Avant cela, il travaillait comme professeur. (Before that, he worked as a teacher.)
16. Il y a de cela
Pronunciation: eel yah duh suh-lah
Meaning: Means “it has been” and emphasizes the duration of time passed.
In a Sentence:
- Il y a de cela trois ans, nous avons voyagé en Europe. (Three years ago, we traveled to Europe.)
- Il y a de cela un mois, j’ai commencé un nouveau travail. (A month ago, I started a new job.)
17. Dans le passé
Pronunciation: dahn luh pah-say
Meaning: Means “in the past,” often used in storytelling or reflective contexts.
In a Sentence:
- Dans le passé, les voitures étaient moins rapides. (In the past, cars were slower.)
- Dans le passé, nous allions toujours à la campagne pour les vacances. (In the past, we always went to the countryside for vacations.)
18. Il fut un temps
Pronunciation: eel foo-tuhn tahn
Meaning: A poetic way to say “there was a time.”
In a Sentence:
- Il fut un temps où les lettres étaient la seule forme de communication. (There was a time when letters were the only form of communication.)
- Il fut un temps où cette maison était pleine de vie. (There was a time when this house was full of life.)
19. Par le passé
Pronunciation: pahr luh pah-say
Meaning: Means “in the past,” with a focus on past habits or occurrences.
In a Sentence:
- Par le passé, nous faisions tout à la main. (In the past, we did everything by hand.)
- Par le passé, il était très timide. (In the past, he was very shy.)
20. Il y a belle lurette
Pronunciation: eel yah bell loo-rett
Meaning: An informal phrase meaning “a long time ago.”
In a Sentence:
- Il y a belle lurette qu’il a quitté ce village. (He left this village a long time ago.)
- Il y a belle lurette que je n’ai pas vu ce film. (I haven’t seen that movie in a long time.)
21. Autrefois déjà
Pronunciation: oh-treh-fwah day-zhah
Meaning: Means “already in the past,” emphasizing something that has been true for a long time.
In a Sentence:
- Autrefois déjà, il était connu pour son talent. (Even in the past, he was known for his talent.)
- Autrefois déjà, cette tradition existait. (This tradition already existed in the past.)
22. Avant que
Pronunciation: ah-vahn kuh
Meaning: Means “before,” often used to indicate an event that occurred some time ago.
In a Sentence:
- Avant que tu arrives, tout était calme. (Before you arrived, everything was quiet.)
- Avant que je commence ce travail, j’avais plus de temps libre. (Before I started this job, I had more free time.)
23. Au siècle dernier
Pronunciation: oh syek luh day-nyay
Meaning: Means “in the last century,” used for historical references.
In a Sentence:
- Au siècle dernier, les trains étaient beaucoup plus lents. (In the last century, trains were much slower.)
- Au siècle dernier, cette ville était beaucoup plus petite. (In the last century, this city was much smaller.)
24. Du temps de
Pronunciation: dew tahn duh
Meaning: Means “in the time of,” referring to a specific period in history.
In a Sentence:
- Du temps de mon grand-père, les choses étaient très différentes. (In my grandfather’s time, things were very different.)
- Du temps de la Révolution, cette région était très agitée. (During the time of the Revolution, this region was very turbulent.)
25. Il y a quelques décennies
Pronunciation: eel yah kel-kuh day-say-nee
Meaning: Means “a few decades ago.”
In a Sentence:
- Il y a quelques décennies, la technologie était bien moins avancée. (A few decades ago, technology was much less advanced.)
- Il y a quelques décennies, cette ville n’était qu’un petit village. (A few decades ago, this city was just a small village.)
Other Ways to Say “Ago” in French
Below is a table with additional phrases and expressions that can be used to convey the meaning of “ago” in French. These are alternatives to the common phrases mentioned earlier.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Depuis quelque temps | duh-pwee kel-kuh tahn | For some time | Depuis quelque temps, il ne vient plus ici. (For some time, he hasn’t come here.) |
| En ce temps-là | ahn suh tahn lah | At that time | En ce temps-là, tout était plus simple. (At that time, everything was simpler.) |
| Un jour passé | uhn zhoor pah-say | A day gone by | Un jour passé, elle m’a donné ce livre. (A day gone by, she gave me this book.) |
| Antérieurement | ahn-teh-ree-ehr-mahn | Previously | Antérieurement, il habitait dans une autre ville. (Previously, he lived in another city.) |
| L’autre jour | loh-truh zhoor | The other day | L’autre jour, je l’ai croisé au marché. (The other day, I ran into him at the market.) |
| Une époque révolue | oon ay-pok ray-vo-loo | A bygone era | C’était une époque révolue, pleine de souvenirs. (It was a bygone era, full of memories.) |
| Il n’y a pas si longtemps | eel n’yah pah see long-tahn | Not so long ago | Il n’y a pas si longtemps, nous étions encore en vacances. (Not so long ago, we were still on vacation.) |
| Anciennement | ahn-see-en-mahn | Formerly | Anciennement, cette maison appartenait à une famille noble. (Formerly, this house belonged to a noble family.) |
| Il y a quelques instants | eel yah kel-kuh zahn-stahn | A few moments ago | Il y a quelques instants, il est parti. (A few moments ago, he left.) |
| Déjà | day-zhah | Already, previously | J’ai déjà vu ce film. (I have already seen this movie.) |
Responses to “Ago” in French
When discussing events or moments that happened “ago” in French, it’s essential to know how to respond naturally. These responses show understanding, agreement, or continuation of the conversation. Below are different ways to reply when someone talks about something that happened “ago” in French.
1. Oui, c’était il y a longtemps
Pronunciation: wee, say-teh eel yah long-tahn
Meaning: Yes, that was a long time ago.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a dix ans, j’ai visité Paris. (Ten years ago, I visited Paris.)
Person 2: Oui, c’était il y a longtemps. (Yes, that was a long time ago.)
2. Je m’en souviens bien
Pronunciation: zhuh mahn soo-vyahn byen
Meaning: I remember it well.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a cinq ans, nous avons travaillé ensemble. (Five years ago, we worked together.)
Person 2: Je m’en souviens bien. (I remember it well.)
3. C’est vrai
Pronunciation: say vray
Meaning: That’s true.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a longtemps que nous sommes amis. (We’ve been friends for a long time.)
Person 2: C’est vrai. (That’s true.)
4. Cela me semble si proche
Pronunciation: suh-lah muh sahm-bluh see prohsh
Meaning: It seems so recent to me.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Cela fait deux ans que j’ai déménagé. (It’s been two years since I moved.)
Person 2: Cela me semble si proche. (It seems so recent to me.)
5. Comme si c’était hier
Pronunciation: kuhm see say-teh yee-ehr
Meaning: Like it was yesterday.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a vingt ans, j’ai commencé ce travail. (Twenty years ago, I started this job.)
Person 2: Comme si c’était hier. (Like it was yesterday.)
6. Oui, je m’en souviens vaguement
Pronunciation: wee, zhuh mahn soo-vyahn vag-muh
Meaning: Yes, I vaguely remember it.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a plusieurs années, on allait souvent à la plage. (Several years ago, we used to go to the beach often.)
Person 2: Oui, je m’en souviens vaguement. (Yes, I vaguely remember it.)
7. Quelle époque!
Pronunciation: kel ay-pok
Meaning: What a time!
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a trente ans, tout était différent. (Thirty years ago, everything was different.)
Person 2: Quelle époque! (What a time!)
8. Oui, le temps passe vite
Pronunciation: wee, luh tahn pahss veet
Meaning: Yes, time flies.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a déjà dix ans depuis notre rencontre. (It’s already been ten years since we met.)
Person 2: Oui, le temps passe vite. (Yes, time flies.)
9. Ça fait déjà un moment
Pronunciation: sah feh day-zhah uhn moh-mahn
Meaning: It’s been a while already.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a quelques mois que j’ai quitté cet emploi. (It’s been a few months since I left that job.)
Person 2: Ça fait déjà un moment. (It’s been a while already.)
10. Je n’arrive pas à y croire
Pronunciation: zhuh nah-reev pah ah ee krwar
Meaning: I can’t believe it.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il y a vingt ans que cet événement a eu lieu. (That event happened twenty years ago.)
Person 2: Je n’arrive pas à y croire. (I can’t believe it.)
Exercise to Practice Using “Ago” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice expressing “ago” in French. Each sentence is written in French with blanks for the missing words. After completing the sentences, you’ll find the answers and the English translations for better understanding.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Nous avons déménagé ______ trois ans.
- ______ quelques jours, il m’a envoyé un message.
- ______ un mois, j’ai commencé un nouveau travail.
- J’ai rencontré Sophie ______ cinq semaines.
- ______ longtemps, ils habitaient dans une grande maison.
- Il a fini son projet ______ deux heures.
- ______ des années, cette tradition a disparu.
- Nous étions à la plage ______ une semaine.
- Ils ont vu ce film ______ quelques jours.
- ______, il était très populaire dans ce quartier.
- Elle a lu ce livre ______ deux jours.
- Ils ont acheté cette maison ______ plusieurs années.
Answers
- il y a trois ans
- Translation: We moved three years ago.
- Il y a quelques jours
- Translation: A few days ago, he sent me a message.
- Il y a un mois
- Translation: A month ago, I started a new job.
- Il y a cinq semaines
- Translation: I met Sophie five weeks ago.
- Il y a longtemps
- Translation: A long time ago, they lived in a big house.
- Il y a deux heures
- Translation: He finished his project two hours ago.
- Il y a des années
- Translation: Years ago, this tradition disappeared.
- Il y a une semaine
- Translation: We were at the beach a week ago.
- Il y a quelques jours
- Translation: They watched this movie a few days ago.
- Autrefois
- Translation: In the past, he was very popular in this neighborhood.
- Il y a deux jours
- Translation: She read this book two days ago.
- Il y a plusieurs années
- Translation: They bought this house several years ago.
Conclusion
Learning how to say “ago” in French is an important step in mastering past tense expressions. Whether you are sharing a memory, discussing history, or describing how much time has passed, the French language offers many ways to express these ideas. Phrases like “il y a” and “cela fait” are especially common and easy to use in everyday conversations.
With consistent practice, these expressions will become a natural part of your French vocabulary. Remember, language learning is about building confidence and connecting with others. Keep practicing the exercises and trying out these phrases in real-life situations. Soon, talking about the past in French will feel as simple as it does in English!