German word

lange

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlaŋə/

Meaning

  • adverbfor a long time

Example

Ich habe lange auf dich gewartet.

I waited for you for a long time.

Illustration for lange (for a long time)

More examples

Heute arbeite ich lange im Büro.

Today I work in the office for a long time.

Core concept

Waiting or another activity extends across a substantial span before it ends.

Common phrases

  • lange warten

    wait for a long time

  • lange bleiben

    stay for a long time

  • lange schlafen

    sleep for a long time

Similar words

schon lange: Having continued for a long time already.
seit langem: Having lasted from a distant point in the past until now.
ewig: Lasting so long that its end seems impossible to see.

Definition in German

Für eine längere Zeit andauernd

Word origin

Lange is the adverbial form associated with German lang, a native Germanic word related to English long.

Usage tips

  • Schon lange means for a long time already, whereas seit langem means since a long time ago and takes the dative form langem.

Other meanings

  • longadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word