60+ Other Ways to Say "Long Time No See" in English • 7ESL (2024)

Last updated on June 3, 2024 by 7ESL

We’ve all been in a situation where we run into someone we haven’t seen in a while and the only thing we can think to say is “long time no see.” Even though it’s a classic phrase, it can be fun to mix it up and use other phrases when catching up with an old friend or acquaintance. We usually use these phrases when we’re pleasantly surprised to see the person and want to express that sentiment.

When to Use “Long Time No See”

“Long time no see” is an expression used to indicate surprise or joy at seeing someone after a long period of separation. It is an informal greeting that is commonly used when two people haven’t seen each other in a while. When using this phrase, it implies that you’re happy to see the person again after a significant amount of time.

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Below are some alternatives to “long time no see,” all of which you can use to express the same sentiment:

Formal Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

List of Formal Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

• Great to see you after so long!
• What a surprise to see you here after all this time.
• I’m so glad to see you!
• How nice to be reunited after all this time.
• It has been a great many years since I last saw you.
• It’s been a while.
• It’s good to see you after so long.
• It’s been too long.
• It’s great to finally see you again.
• It’s been an eternity since we last met.
• It’s a pleasure to see you after all this time.
• It’s a delight to finally see you again.
• It’s a reunion long overdue.
• It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

How to Use these Phrases Correctly

Depending on the situation and the formality of your conversation, you can use any of these statements to express joy at seeing someone you haven’t seen in a long time. When you say “Great to see you after so long” or “I’m so glad to see you,” you are expressing your enthusiasm for being reunited with the person after a long time apart.

Alternatively, when you say “What a surprise to see you here after all this time,” it implies that you didn’t expect to see the person in that particular place. “How nice to be reunited after all this time” is another way to express that you are glad to have been reunited with the person after such a long time apart. Lastly, “It has been a great many years since I last saw you” is an effective way to emphasize the length of time that has passed since you last saw the person.

Informal Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

List of Informal Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

1. What a pleasant surprise!
2. Look who it is!
3. Fancy meeting you here!
4. It’s been ages!
5. When did we last see each other?
6. Hey, haven’t seen you in ages!
7. What’s up, long time no talk!
8. Good to see you, man/bud/pal!
9. It’s been forever since we last hung out!
10. Glad to see you’re still around!
11. Wassup, it’s been a minute!
12. Long time no hear/see!
13. Yo, it’s been a hot minute!
14. Been too long, bro/sis!
15. Good to see you again, friend!

How to Use these Phrases Correctly

These are all informal ways to express joy at seeing someone you haven’t seen in a while. “What a pleasant surprise!” signals to the person that you are pleasantly surprised to see them, while “Look who it is!” implies that you weren’t expecting to see them in this particular place. “Fancy meeting you here!” is another way of expressing surprise, while “It’s been ages!” acknowledges the length of time since you last saw each other. Lastly, “When did we last see each other?” is a good way to recognize the length of time without being too direct.

Casual and Slang Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

List of Slang Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

• Hey stranger!
• What’s up, old friend?
• Good to see you again, buddy!
• Long time, no hear!
• It’s been too long!

How to Use these Phrases Correctly

Usually, when you want to break the ice with someone you haven’t seen in a while, it’s best to use casual language. Idiomatic expressions are great for making people feel comfortable and at ease. For example, you could greet an old friend by saying “Hey stranger!” or “What’s up, old friend?” These expressions show that you recognize the person and acknowledge that it’s been a while since you’ve seen them.

You can also use phrases like “Good to see you again, buddy!” or “Long time, no hear!” These expressions show that you’re happy to see the person and playfully break the ice. Expressions like “It’s been too long!” or “We haven’t seen each other in ages!” show how much time has passed since you’ve seen the person and that you’re happy to see them again.

Different Ways to Say “Long Time No See”

1. It’s been a while.
2. Good to see you again.
3. Glad to see you.
4. It’s been too long.
5. It’s great to finally meet you again.
6. It’s been an age since we last met.
7. It’s been ages.
8. It’s been a reunion long overdue.
9. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?
10. Hey, haven’t seen you in ages!
11. What’s up, long time no talk!
12. Good to see you, man/bud/pal!
13. It’s been forever since we last hung out!
14. Glad to see you’re still around!
15. Wassup, it’s been a minute!
16. Long time no hear/see!
17. Yo, it’s been a hot minute!
18. What’s good, haven’t seen you in a minute.
19. Yo, it’s been a minute since we kicked it.
20. What’s up, haven’t seen you in a bit.
21. Long time no chill.
22. Hey, it’s been a hot minute since we caught up.
23. Good to see you, haven’t seen you in a sec.
24. Wassup, haven’t seen you in a while.
25. Yo, it’s been a sec since we last met.
26. What’s new, haven’t seen you in a minute.
27. Glad to see you, haven’t seen you in a bit.

Whether you’re seeing an old friend or bumping into someone you haven’t seen in ages, these phrases will help break the ice and start a conversation. To show you mean it, you can add a warm gesture like a handshake or a hug. A smile and an affectionate tone of voice also help to communicate that you are genuinely happy to see the person again. So next time you run into someone you haven’t seen in a while, try one of these expressions instead of the standard “long time no see.”

Related links:

• Nice to Meet You
• Goodbye
• How Are You