How Things Change Over Time
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3 de novembro de 2026
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Ouvir e revisar
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Two old friends catch up over coffee and look back on how their lives, work and neighbourhood have evolved. In this set, you meet expressions for:
- Reconnecting and looking back: Ça fait un bail !, à l'époque, avec le recul
- Sudden shifts: du jour au lendemain, changer du tout au tout
- Gradual change over time: peu à peu, de fil en aiguille, au fil du temps, à la longue
The cards follow a single conversation from the first hello to a final reflection, showing how speakers contrast the way things started with how they turned out.
Cartões Voca
1.
Ça fait longtemps qu'on ne s'est pas vus.
It's been a long time since we saw each other., Long time no see.
Salut Léa ! Ça fait longtemps qu'on ne s'est pas vus, tu deviens quoi ?
Hey Léa! It's been a long time since we saw each other, what have you been up to?
In everyday speech, the 'ne' is often dropped: 'Ça fait longtemps qu'on s'est pas vus'.
2.
Ça fait un bail !
It's been ages!, It's been forever!
C'est clair, ça fait un bail ! La dernière fois, c'était à ton déménagement, non ?
Totally, it's been ages! Last time was when you moved, right?
An informal way to say it has been a very long time. A 'bail' is literally a lease.
3.
depuis tout ce temps
all this time, after all this time
Tu habites toujours dans le même quartier depuis tout ce temps ?
Are you still living in the same neighborhood after all this time?
4.
Ça remonte à loin.
That goes way back., That was a long time ago.
Oh là là, notre voyage à Rome, ça remonte à loin, on était encore étudiants.
Oh man, our trip to Rome goes way back, we were still students.
Literally 'it goes back far', used for memories or events from the distant past.
5.
Ça ne nous rajeunit pas.
We're not getting any younger., That makes us feel old.
Quand je pense que c'était il y a dix ans, ça ne nous rajeunit pas !
When I think about how that was ten years ago, we're really not getting any younger!
A humorous phrase meaning 'that makes us feel old', used when realising how much time has passed.
6.
à l'époque
back then, at the time
À l'époque, tu ne voulais absolument pas travailler dans un bureau.
Back then, you really didn't want to work in an office at all.
Refers to a specific period in the past that both speakers have in mind.
7.
au départ
at first, initially
Au départ, je pensais rester seulement six mois à Lyon, et j'y suis toujours.
At first, I thought I'd only stay in Lyon for six months, and I'm still here.
Often used to contrast initial plans or impressions with how things turned out later.
8.
dans un premier temps
to begin with, at first
Dans un premier temps, j'ai cherché un poste à temps partiel, puis j'ai repris à plein temps.
To begin with, I looked for a part-time job, and then I went back to full-time.
9.
du jour au lendemain
overnight, from one day to the next
Mon ancien patron a vendu l'entreprise et tout s'est arrêté du jour au lendemain.
My old boss sold the company and everything shut down overnight.
Literally 'from one day to the next', used for sudden, unexpected changes.
10.
tout d'un coup
all of a sudden, suddenly
J'aimais bien mon travail, et puis tout d'un coup, j'ai eu envie de faire autre chose.
I liked my job, and then all of a sudden, I felt like doing something else.
11.
changer du tout au tout
to change completely, to do a complete 180
Depuis que tu as quitté Paris, ton rythme de vie a changé du tout au tout.
Since you left Paris, your pace of life has changed completely.
12.
peu à peu
little by little, gradually
Au début je ne connaissais personne ici, mais je me suis fait des amis peu à peu.
At first I didn't know anyone here, but I made friends little by little.
13.
au fur et à mesure
as you go along, bit by bit
Je n'avais pas de plan précis, j'ai appris le métier au fur et à mesure.
I didn't have a specific plan, I learned the job as I went along.
Expresses that something happens progressively, step by step alongside another process.
14.
de fil en aiguille
one thing led to another
J'ai commencé par aider un ami le week-end et, de fil en aiguille, on a monté notre boîte.
I started out helping a friend on weekends, and one thing led to another and we started our own busi
Literally 'from thread to needle', meaning one thing naturally led to another.
15.
au fil du temps
over time, as time went on
On s'est un peu perdus de vue au fil du temps, chacun avait sa vie.
We kind of lost touch over time, we each had our own lives.
Literally 'along the thread of time', used when looking back at slow, natural changes.
16.
d'année en année
from year to year, year after year
Le centre-ville se transforme, je vois la différence d'année en année.
Downtown is changing, I can see the difference from year to year.
17.
de plus en plus
more and more, increasingly
Les loyers deviennent de plus en plus chers dans le quartier, c'est fou.
Rent is getting more and more expensive in the neighborhood, it's crazy.
18.
à la longue
in the long run, after a while
Les deux heures de transport par jour, ça devient vraiment fatigant à la longue.
Commuting two hours a day gets really tiring in the long run.
Often used when something becomes tiring, annoying or noticeable after a long period.
19.
tôt ou tard
sooner or later
Tu savais très bien que tu allais devoir prendre cette décision tôt ou tard.
You knew very well that you were going to have to make that decision sooner or later.
20.
avec le recul
looking back, in hindsight
Sur le moment j'étais déçu, mais avec le recul, c'était la meilleure chose à faire.
At the time I was disappointed, but looking back, it was the best thing to do.
Literally 'with the step back', meaning with hindsight or perspective gained over time.
21.
Le temps file.
Time flies.
Ton fils rentre déjà au collège en septembre ? C'est incroyable comme le temps file.
Your son is already starting middle school in September? It's crazy how time flies.
22.
Les choses ont bien changé.
Things have really changed., Things have changed a lot.
Quand on regarde où on en est aujourd'hui, les choses ont bien changé depuis la fac !
When you look at where we are today, things have really changed since college!
Before a past participle or adjective, 'bien' often means 'really' or 'a lot'.