General
lang syne
What does lang syne mean?
Long ago, times gone by; 'auld lang syne' means 'old long since', i.e. days of old.
"We spoke o' friends fae lang syne."
Origin
Scots, 'lang' (long) + 'syne' (since/ago); immortalised in Burns's song.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'lang syne' mean?
It means long ago or times gone by. 'Auld lang syne' translates roughly as 'old long since', meaning days of old.
How do you use 'lang syne' in a sentence?
For example, 'We spoke o' friends fae lang syne' means we spoke of friends from long ago.
Where does 'lang syne' come from?
It's Scots — 'lang' (long) plus 'syne' (since/ago) — and was immortalised in Robert Burns's song 'Auld Lang Syne', sung at Hogmanay.
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