Demystifying How To Translate ‘Long’ in Spanish

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If you want to say “long” in Spanish to refer to a physical length or a length of time, you’ll need the word largo to describe masculine nouns or larga for feminine ones. However, depending on what you’re talking about—length, distance, or duration—you may need to use a different word entirely.

Some basic Spanish words often don’t have a one-to-one translation, but they are much easier to learn in context. Use this guide to learn how to say “long” in Spanish and many other associated phrases. 

How to say ‘long’ in different contexts

You may want to discuss length, duration, distance, or ask how long something will take. In English, the word “long” will often suffice, but the Spanish equivalents will vary depending on the context.

Some learners incorrectly use the word largo when they mean “large.” Learn how to say “long” in Spanish in real-life contexts and you’ll never get largo confused with grande (big/large) again.

largo/larga (long) 

This most direct translation of “long” is used for describing an item’s length. Largo follows rules for other adjectives in Spanish, so it will change according to the grammatical gender and number of the noun. 

You can often tell this information about Spanish nouns by taking a look at the articles in Spanish, which is information that proves essential for following Spanish gender rules. 

Pelo/cabello largo (long hair) 

One common use of largo is to describe hair length. Whether you’re requesting a specific peinado (hairdo) at the salon or describing a friend with long hair, pelo largo or cabello largo means “long hair” in Spanish. 

Something very important in Spanish is that the adjective always matches the noun it’s describing. Even if you’re describing a woman with long hair, the noun being described is either pelo or cabello (hair), which are masculine nouns, so you won’t say larga. 

• El hombre tiene pelo largo. = The man has long hair. 
• La mujer tiene pelo largo. = The woman has long hair. 

To describe short hair, you’ll need to learn to say “short” in Spanish. Remember to say corto (short in length), not bajo (short in stature). 

de largo (in length) 

In English, you can describe length or distance with a measurement followed by the word “long,” as in “three feet long.” In Spanish, you will need to add de largo at the end of the measurement. This will come in handy when you’re shopping or furnishing an apartment. You should also know de ancho (wide) and de alto (tall) for all three dimensions.

• Buscamos una mesa de dos metros de largo. = We’re looking for a table that is two feet long. 
• La ruta tenía tres millas de largo. = The route was three miles long. 

alargado/alargada (elongated) 

This is a synonym of largo that is typically only used when the noun is both long and narrow. It’s one more example of how Spanish is a rich language full of expressive adjectives. 

• Italia es un país alargado. = Italy is a long country. 
• Una trompa es una nariz alargada. = A trunk is a long nose.

prolongado/prolongada (prolonged)

This term is used in specific instances such as “a prolonged illness” or “a lengthy process.” 

• Su tratamiento es debido a su enfermedad prolongada. = Her treatment is because of her prolonged illness. 
• Cambiar su nombre puede ser un proceso prolongado. = Changing one’s name can be a prolonged process. 

por mucho tiempo (for a long time) 

This is a great way to convey the idea of a lengthy amount of time without specifying the exact timeframe.

• He estudiado por mucho tiempo. = I have studied for a long time. 
• Viví en Roma por mucho tiempo. = I lived in Rome for a long time. 

How to ask ‘How long?’ in Spanish

This is where the translation will depend on what you’re measuring, as there’s no one way to say “how long?” You can also learn “how much” in Spanish with some similar structures, not to be confused with “how much longer?” in Spanish. See the chart for a breakdown of common expressions with “how long.”

Other expressions with ‘long’ in Spanish

Impress the locals with these expressions and make your conversation sound more natural. You can learn more authentic Spanish phrases like these with Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method, so you learn Spanish the way it’s spoken by native speakers. 

It won’t be long before you can converse with confidence

With just these translations of the word “long” in Spanish, you can discuss length, duration, distance, and ask how long something will take. Memorizing this list might be helpful in the short-term, but for el éxito a largo plazo (long-term success), you’ll need to go beyond rote memorization. 

Part of how Rosetta Stone works is by introducing you to phrases in authentic context, with audio spoken by native speakers. This proven method will also have you speaking comprehensibly from day one. Dentro de poco (before long), you’ll be able to carry on everyday conversations with ease.