Where Does the Phrase 'Long Time No See' Come From? | Origin Explained
Discover the origin of the phrase 'long time no see', its historical roots in pidgin English, and how it became a popular English greeting.
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The phrase 'long time no see' originates from an English pidgin or broken English, often attributed to a Native American or Chinese pidgin English. It was first recorded in the late 19th to early 20th century, mimicking the grammatical structures of these languages. Intended to humorously reflect a direct translation of a non-English speaker's greeting, it has since entered mainstream English usage to express that one hasn't seen someone for a considerable period.
FAQs & Answers
- What does 'long time no see' mean? 'Long time no see' is a casual English greeting used to express that it has been a while since two people last met.
- Is 'long time no see' grammatically correct? While not grammatically standard in English, 'long time no see' originated from pidgin English and has been widely accepted as a colloquial phrase.
- Who first used the phrase 'long time no see'? The phrase likely originated from Native American or Chinese pidgin English in the late 19th to early 20th century as a direct translation of greetings.