expression, adverb
a short time ago; a while ago; for some time
Used to refer to a point in the recent past or a duration that started recently. The exact time span is vague and context-dependent.
しばらく前から、ここに住んでいます。
I've been living here for some time now.
しばらく前に、彼に会いました。
I met him a while ago.
さっき refers to a very recent moment, typically within the same day, while しばらく前 can refer to a longer, more vague period.
少し前 is more concrete and often implies a shorter, more definite time span than しばらく前.
Compound of しばらく (for a while) and 前 (before).