馃嚝馃嚪 French phrases

How to Say "Long time no see" in French

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
脟a fait longtemps
"Long time no see" in French 路 say it like sah feh lon-tahn

The most natural way to say "Long time no see" in French is 脟a fait longtemps. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

脟a fait un bail
Casual and commonly used among friends
Longtemps sans se voir
More formal, can be used in written communication

When to use it

You can use this phrase when you meet someone you haven't seen in a while. It expresses a sense of nostalgia or surprise at the time that has passed. It's friendly and can be used in both casual and semi-formal settings.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Long time no see" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in French

FrenchEnglish
Salut, 莽a fait longtemps !Hi, it's been a long time!
On ne s'est pas vus depuis des mois, 莽a fait longtemps.We haven't seen each other for months, it's been a long time.
Common mistake
Learners often translate it literally, which can sound awkward in French.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 脟a fait longtemps, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking French with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it appropriate to use this phrase in a formal setting?

It's better to use a more formal variant in professional contexts.

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