Spanish · A2 · Everyday language
Since then and a while ago in Spanish
Helping your child understand time involves distinguishing between things that started in the past and are still happening, and things that simply happened a while ago. In Spanish, we use 'hace' for 'ago' and 'desde hace' for 'for' or 'since'.
What you'll learn
- Use 'hace' to describe actions completed in the past (ago).
- Use 'desde hace' or 'desde' to describe actions that started in the past and continue now (since/for).
- Distinguish between a point in time (desde) and a duration of time (desde hace).
Spanish phrases for since then and a while ago
Estamos aquí desde hace una hora.
We have been here for an hour.
'Desde hace' describes a duration of time that is still ongoing.
Tengo este peluche desde el lunes.
I have had this teddy since Monday.
Use 'desde' when mentioning a specific starting point (like a day or date).
Ella está en la guardería desde hace una semana.
She has been at nursery for a week.
'Guardería' is the common word for nursery or daycare.
Está lloviendo desde esta mañana.
It has been raining since this morning.
Even though it's ongoing, we use the present tense or present continuous in Spanish.
Llegamos hace diez minutos.
We arrived ten minutes ago.
'Hace' followed by a time period translates to 'ago'.
El abuelo nos visitó hace dos días.
Grandad visited us two days ago.
Use the past tense (Pretérito) with 'hace' for completed actions.
Comí un plátano hace una hora.
I ate a banana an hour ago.
Notice how 'hace' comes before the time period, unlike 'ago' in English.
Compramos este carrito hace un año.
We bought this buggy a year ago.
'Carrito' is used for a stroller or buggy in many Spanish-speaking regions.
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 / it has been
Used for completed past actions.
desde hace
for (duration)
Used for actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
desde
since (point in time)
Used when referring to a specific moment (e.g., Monday, 8:00 AM).
peluche
stuffed animal / teddy
A very common word in households with children.
Ongoing Actions: Desde hace vs. Desde
To say how long something has been happening, Spanish uses the present tense + 'desde hace' (for a duration) or 'desde' (for a starting point).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Present Tense + desde hace + [Time Period] | Vivo aquí desde hace un mes. (I have lived here for a month.) |
| Point in Time | Present Tense + desde + [Specific Time] | Duerme desde las ocho. (He has been sleeping since eight.) |
Completed Actions: Hace
To say 'ago', place 'hace' before the amount of time. The main verb usually stays in the past tense.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | Past Tense + hace + [Time Period] | Despertó hace poco. (He woke up a little while ago.) |
More examples
¿Desde cuándo tienes ese juguete?
How long have you had that toy?
Asking for the starting point.
Terminé la tarea hace cinco minutos.
I finished the homework five minutes ago.
A finished action in the recent past.
Estamos listos desde hace rato.
We have been ready for a while.
'Rato' is a very common way to say 'a while'.