donkey's years: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Informal, colloquial, humorous
Quick answer
What does “donkey's years” mean?
A very long period of time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very long period of time; a very long time.
An idiom used hyperbolically to emphasize the perceived length of time since something happened or someone was last seen, often implying familiarity or nostalgia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British and Commonwealth idiom. It is recognized in American English but used less frequently and may sound distinctly British.
Connotations
In British usage, it carries a mildly humorous, folksy, and often affectionate tone. In American usage, if used, it may be perceived as a quaint Britishism.
Frequency
Common in UK speech and writing. Considered a lower-frequency alternative to 'ages' or 'forever' in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “donkey's years” in a Sentence
It's been + donkey's years + since-clausefor + donkey's yearsin + donkey's yearsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in informal conversation between colleagues: 'I haven't worked on a project like this in donkey's years.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation among friends and family to express a long absence or duration.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “donkey's years”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “donkey's years”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “donkey's years”
- Using the singular 'donkey's year'.
- Using it in formal writing.
- Capitalizing the phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a punning idiom from the early 20th century, playing on the length of a donkey's ears and the long passage of 'years'. It's an example of rhyming slang or simple wordplay.
You can, and you will be understood, but it will mark you as using a British idiom. Most Americans would say 'ages' or 'forever' instead.
The standard and correct form is the possessive 'donkey's years'.
It functions as a plural noun phrase, similar to 'a few years' or 'many years'. It is not an adjective or adverb on its own.
A very long period of time.
Donkey's years is usually informal, colloquial, humorous in register.
Donkey's years: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒŋkiz jɪəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːŋkiz jɪrz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's been donkey's years since...”
- “I haven't seen you in donkey's years!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DONKEY that lives for a hundred YEARS. That's a 'donkey's years' – a very, very long time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS DISTANCE/LENGTH (a long stretch of time).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'donkey's years' be LEAST appropriate?