Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "long ago" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

давно

Meaning: long ago, a long time ago, for a long time, for long, long since, way back, lately

Pronunciation: [dahv-NOH]

Part of speech: adverb

Rank: #268 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

Я давно́ был в Санкт-Петербу́рге, в 1995 году́.
I was in St. Petersburg a long time ago ― in 1995.
Э́ту кварти́ру мы купи́ли давно́, когда́ це́ны на жильё ещё не́ были таки́ми высо́кими.
We’ve bought this flat a long time ago when the housing prices were not so high.
И́горь давно́ жени́лся и тепе́рь ведёт ти́хую семе́йную жизнь.
Igor married long ago and now leads a quiet family life.
Мы живём в Москве́ давно́, уже́ 10 лет.
We’ve been living in Moscow for a long time ― for 10 years already.
Я зна́ю Све́ту давно́, с ра́ннего де́тства.
I’ve known Sveta for a long time ― since early childhood.
Наш сын давно́ уже́ взро́слый и мо́жет сам принима́ть реше́ния.
Our son has been a grown up for a long time already and he can make decisions for himself.
Ты уже́ давно́ не писа́л сестре́. Она́ волну́ется.
You haven’t written your sister for a long time. She is worried.
Вы давно́ игра́ли в ша́хматы?
Have you played chess lately?
Мы так давно́ не ви́делись!
We haven’t seen each other for so long!
За́втра я начну́ иска́ть рабо́ту. ― Давно́ пора́!
Tomorrow I’ll start looking for work. – About time!

Idioms and set expressions:

давно́ пора́ (+ infinitive) = it's high time (…)
давно́ пора́ = about time!
давно́ бы так = and high time (it is)

Related words:

да́вний = old, ancient, long-standing
давны́м-давно́ = very long ago, long long ago, ages and ages ago, back in the day
давне́нько (col.) = for quite a (long) while
до́лго = long, (for) a long time

Proverbs and sayings:

Э́то бы́ло давно́ и непра́вда.
It was a long time ago, and it’s not true. (humorous saying)
Давно́, когда́ ещё ба́ба де́вкой была́.
A long long time ago.
literal Long ago, when a woman was still a girl.
Давно́, когда́ ещё ба́бушка вну́чкой была́.
A long long time ago.
literal Long ago, when a grandmother was still a granddaughter.
Давно́ – не причи́на (не оправда́ние).
An elephant never forgets.
literal For a long time (long ago) is not the reason (not the excuse).

Vocabulary lesson: By RT: Learn Russian exclusively for MasterRussian

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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