Italian Phrase

Stiamo aspettando da tanto tempo.

/ˈstja.mo asˈpetˈtaŋ.ɡo da ˈtan.to ˈtem.po/

Meaning"We have been waiting for a long time."

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Meaning

The sentence means “We have been waiting for a long time.” It uses the present progressive (stiamo + gerund) to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing, and the preposition “da” to indicate the duration of that action.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that you and others have been waiting for a considerable period, whether you’re at a restaurant, a train station, or waiting for a response.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Stiamoaspettandodatantotempo

Stare + gerundio

The construction “stiamo + aspettando” forms the present progressive, indicating an action that is happening right now and has been ongoing.

Da + duration

The preposition “da” followed by a time expression (tanto tempo) expresses how long the action has lasted.

Tanto vs. Molto

Both “tanto” and “molto” can mean “a lot/long,” but “tanto tempo” is a very common idiomatic way to say “a long time.”

🗨In Conversation

Stiamo aspettando da tanto tempo.

We've been waiting for a long time.

Sì, dovrebbe arrivare tra pochi minuti.

Yes, it should arrive in a few minutes.

✕Common Mistakes

Siamo aspettando da tanto tempo.
The auxiliary for the progressive is “stare,” not “essere.”
Stiamo aspettando da molto tempo.
Both “da tanto tempo” and “da molto tempo” are correct, but learners often mix them with the wrong verb form.
Stiamo aspettare da tanto tempo.
In the progressive you need the gerund “aspettando,” not the infinitive.

↔Alternatives

Aspettiamo da molto tempo.
We've been waiting for a long time.
Siamo in attesa da tanto tempo.
We have been in waiting for a long time.
Da tanto tempo siamo qui ad aspettare.
We've been here waiting for a long time.

Cultural Tip

In Italy, punctuality is appreciated, but delays happen, especially in public transport or busy restaurants. When you say “Stiamo aspettando da tanto tempo,” you’re politely highlighting the inconvenience without sounding confrontational. In more formal settings you might use “Siamo in attesa da molto tempo” to keep the tone courteous.