PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
⏳❓

How to Say ‘Have you been waiting long?’ in French

Tu attends depuis longtemps ?

too a-tahn duh-PWEE lohn-tahn

[too a-tahn duh-PWEE lohn-tahn]

💬 Usage Tip: Where English says "have been waiting," French uses the plain present with depuis "since, for." Swap the verb: Tu es là depuis longtemps ? "Have you been here long?"

Phrase Breakdown

Tu attends

too a-tahn

You are waiting

Informal 'tu' with the verb 'attendre'. The final 'ds' is silent, so it sounds like 'a-tan'.

Example

Tu attends le bus ?

Are you waiting for the bus?

Words in this phrase

Tu

[too]

you (informal singular)

Informal subject pronoun “you”. Used with friends; common when discussing tastes in anime.

Example

Tu aimes les shōnen ?

Do you like shōnen?

attends

[a-tahn]

are waiting / wait

From attendre, meaning to wait. Useful when talking about waiting for the children.

Example

Devant l'école, Tu attends souvent ton fils ici.

In front of the school, you often wait for your son here.

depuis longtemps ?

duh-PWEE lohn-tahn

for a long time?

'Depuis' plus a duration gives 'for (how long)'. Raise your voice at the end to make it a question.

Example

Tu habites ici depuis longtemps ?

Have you lived here for a long time?

Words in this phrase

depuis

[duh-PWEE]

for / since

Used to talk about duration starting in the past and continuing to now.

Example

Je peux ajouter « depuis longtemps » après une question sur le travail.

I can add “for a long time” after a question about work.

longtemps

[lohn-tahn]

a long time

A time expression meaning a long time.

Example

Je le connais depuis longtemps.

I have known him for a long time.

Related guides

Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer