Introduction
The expression Faz tempo que is a common way to talk about how long something has been happening in Brazilian Portuguese. It translates roughly to English it has been a long time since or for a long time and appears in everyday conversation. This article explains how to form sentences with Faz tempo que, when to use it, verb tense choices, variations, examples, and useful cultural notes.
- What does Faz tempo que mean?
- Basic grammar and structure
- Common patterns and examples
- How to express specific time amounts
- Variations and synonyms
- Negative, interrogative, and emphasis
- Examples in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Regional and cultural notes
- Quick reference: formation rules
- When to prefer alternatives
- Conclusion
What does Faz tempo que mean?
Faz tempo que literally uses the verb fazer plus tempo to indicate elapsed time. In practice, it expresses duration: how long an action or state has lasted up to now. Think of it as a Portuguese way to say I have been doing something for X time or It has been X time since something happened.
Structure at a glance:
Faz tempo que + clause
Basic grammar and structure
Use of the impersonal verb fazer
The verb fazer is used impersonally in time expressions, similar to English it is used in it is three years since. The form faz is the present indicative of fazer. Because this use is impersonal, faz does not change to agree with a subject. You will not say fazemos tempo que or fizemos tempo que for this meaning.
Two main uses: duration vs. point in time
There are two common interpretations:
- Duration up to now: Faz tempo que trabalho aqui meaning I have been working here for a long time. The action started in the past and continues in the present.
- Point in the past: Faz tempo que eu não vejo ele can mean It has been a long time since I saw him, emphasizing the last time something happened.
Clause verb tenses
Verb tense after Faz tempo que depends on what you want to say.
- To express an action continuing to the present, use the present or the present continuous:
Faz tempo que estudo português or Faz tempo que estou estudando português. Both mean I have been studying Portuguese for a long time. - To emphasize that something last happened in the past and is not happening now, use the past tense (pretérito perfeito or pretérito imperfeito depending on nuance):
Faz tempo que não falo com ela (It has been a long time since I spoke with her).
Faz tempo que morávamos naquele bairro (A while ago we used to live in that neighborhood — focus on past habitual state).
Common patterns and examples
Duration continuing to present
Use when an action or state started in the past and still holds now. Prefer present simple or present continuous for the main verb.
Examples:
Faz tempo que trabalho nesta empresa.
Faz tempo que moro no Brasil.
Faz tempo que estudo violão.
It has been X time since
Use when emphasizing that something has not happened for a while. Often negative forms are used with não.
Examples:
Faz tempo que não vou ao cinema.
Faz tempo que não nos vemos.
Faz tempo que não chove por aqui.
Past descriptions and habitual past actions
When describing past habits or repeated actions, use past tenses after Faz tempo que.
Examples:
Faz tempo que jogávamos futebol todo sábado.
Faz tempo que ela morava naquela casa.
How to express specific time amounts
You can combine Faz tempo que with specific durations for clarity. Often the expression is used alone, but adding the time span makes the duration explicit.
Patterns:
- Faz + duration + que + clause
- Faz tempo que + clause (duration implied)
Examples with explicit duration:
Faz duas horas que espero aqui.
Faz três anos que estudo português.
Faz muito tempo que não como doces.
Variations and synonyms
Faz tempo que vs. Há + tempo
The expression Há can also indicate elapsed time and is more formal. It is often interchangeable with Faz tempo que when talking about duration.
Examples:
Há três anos estudo português.
Faz três anos que estudo português.
Note nuance: Há is common in written language and formal speech, while Faz tempo que sounds more colloquial and conversational in Brazil.
Faz + tempo vs. Faz tempo que
Sometimes speakers shorten the phrase and speak simply with faz plus a time expression, but the most common and clear form is Faz tempo que followed by a clause.
Negative, interrogative, and emphasis
Negative sentences
Put não before the verb in the clause to say it has been a long time since something happened.
Examples:
Faz tempo que não como peixe.
Faz tempo que não ligam para mim.
Questions
You can form questions naturally by inverting or adding question words.
Examples:
Faz tempo que vocês visitaram a cidade?
Quanto tempo faz que você mora aqui?
Note that Quanto tempo faz que is a useful alternative to ask how long something has been happening.
Adding emphasis
Use adverbs to strengthen the sense of duration: há muito tempo, faz bastante tempo, faz muito tempo.
Examples:
Faz bastante tempo que não te vejo.
Faz muito tempo que estamos esperando.
Examples in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Below are realistic sentences you might hear in conversation, with brief notes on meaning.
Faz tempo que você trabalha aqui?
(Asking how long someone has worked here; continues to present.)
Faz tempo que eu não como feijoada.
(I have not eaten feijoada for a long time; last time was long ago.)
Faz duas semanas que estou estudando para a prova.
(I have been studying for the exam for two weeks.)
Faz anos que a gente não se fala.
(It has been years since we talked.)
Faz tempo que choveu assim? — Não, faz muito tempo.
(Is it a long time since it rained like this? — No, it has been a long time.)
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Incorrect verb agreement with fazer
Remember that faz in this construction is impersonal. Do not try to match it to the subject. Incorrect: *Fazemos tempo que. Correct: Faz tempo que.
Choosing the right tense in the clause
Beginner learners sometimes use past tense when they mean an action continues to the present. If the action still happens now, prefer present or present continuous: use estudo or estou estudando instead of estudei.
Overusing literal English structures
Directly translating English it has been X that or I have been doing X for Y time can lead to awkward Portuguese. Learn the natural Portuguese word order: Faz tempo que + clause or Quanto tempo faz que + clause for questions.
Regional and cultural notes
In Brazil, Faz tempo que is very common in spoken language and informal writing. You will hear it across regions, but alternative expressions like Já faz can also appear, especially in questions or emphasis: Já faz tempo que vocês chegaram? Another common expression is Quanto tempo to ask how long: Quanto tempo você está aqui?
Culturally, Brazilians often use time expressions in small talk to reconnect with friends: Asking Faz tempo que não nos vemos? is a friendly way to show interest in someone’s absence and to encourage a catch-up.
Quick reference: formation rules
1. Start with Faz tempo que to introduce elapsed time.
2. Use present/present continuous in the clause for actions continuing now.
3. Use past tenses in the clause to refer to past events or habits no longer true.
4. Add a specific duration after faz for clarity: Faz três meses que…
5. Use não before the verb for negative constructions: Faz tempo que não…
When to prefer alternatives
If you want a more formal tone, use Há to indicate elapsed time: Há cinco anos que estudo aqui. For emphasis or variety, you can use expressions like Já faz, Há muito tempo, or simply Quanto tempo faz que when asking questions.
Conclusion
Faz tempo que is a versatile, informal way to express duration and elapsed time in Brazilian Portuguese. Use Faz tempo que + clause for actions continuing to the present or to say it has been a long time since something happened. Choose the verb tense in the clause based on whether the action still occurs, add specific durations when helpful, and remember regional alternatives like Há. With these patterns and examples, you can confidently say how long things have been happening in Portuguese.
