Spanish · A2 · Everyday language
Growing Every Day in Spanish
Tracking your baby's development in Spanish involves using time markers to describe how long something has been happening or how long ago a milestone occurred. The key word in both scenarios is 'hace'.
What you'll learn
- Use 'hace' with the present tense to describe ongoing actions (for/since).
- Use 'hace' with the past tense to describe completed milestones (ago).
- Identify common time-related vocabulary for babies.
Spanish phrases for growing every day
Hace una hora que estás despierto.
You have been awake for an hour.
Uses 'hace' + time + present tense for ongoing duration.
Hace una semana que tienes tu primer diente.
You have had your first tooth for a week.
Describes a state that started a week ago and continues now.
Hace un mes que gateas.
You have been crawling for a month.
'Gatear' means to crawl.
Hace media hora que estamos afuera.
We have been outside for half an hour.
'Afuera' means outside.
Te cambié el pañal hace diez minutos.
I changed your nappy ten minutes ago.
Uses 'hace' at the end with a past tense verb for 'ago'.
Tomaste tu leche hace una hora.
You drank your milk an hour ago.
Completed action in the past.
Fuimos al médico hace una semana.
We visited the doctor a week ago.
'Ir al médico' is to go to the doctor.
Dijiste tu primera palabra hace dos días.
You said your first word two days ago.
'Dijiste' is the past tense of 'decir' (to say).
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
hace
ago / for
Used for both duration and specific time points.
el pañal
the nappy / diaper
A common noun for daily baby care.
gatear
to crawl
An important motor milestone.
despierto
awake
Adjective describing the baby's state.
Using 'Hace' for Duration (Ongoing)
To say how long something has been happening, use 'Hace' + time + 'que' + Present Tense.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing Action | Hace + [Time] + que + [Present] | Hace una hora que lloras (You've been crying for an hour). |
Using 'Hace' for Points in Time (Ago)
To say how long ago something happened, use the Preterite (past) tense + 'hace' + time.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Completed Action | [Past Verb] + hace + [Time] | Nació hace un mes (He/She was born a month ago). |
More examples
¡Ya gateas! Hace dos semanas que empezaste.
You are crawling already! You started two weeks ago.
Combining present state with a past milestone.
Estás limpio. Te cambié hace un momento.
You are clean. I changed you a moment ago.
'Hace un momento' is a common way to say 'just now'.