Hace 2 años

Hace 2 años
 

How does hace 2 años translate into 2 years ago? Does hacer have meanings other than to do or to make or is it one of those phrases that doesn't translate directly from english to spanish?

Yes, "hace 2 años" typically translates the expression "2 years ago".

The verb "hacer" is one of the most-used verbs in Spanish. It appears in a number of set expressions, and it often translates many different English verbs that include the concept of making or doing.

You might look at the entries for "hacer" at either wordreference.com or at rae.es. The second one lists 58 separate meanings and 40 distinct set expressions for "hacer".

If it makes you feel better, you can literally translate 'hace dos años (que ...)' into English as 'it makes two years (that ...)'. This will help you understand the 'time expressions' where 'hace' is used.