diff --git a/src/I18n/Date.php b/src/I18n/Date.php
index 0b486a32ca7..9fe9bbad069 100644
--- a/src/I18n/Date.php
+++ b/src/I18n/Date.php
@@ -68,4 +68,227 @@ class Date extends BaseDate implements JsonSerializable
      * @see \Cake\I18n\DateFormatTrait::nice()
      */
     public static $niceFormat = [IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM, -1];
+
+    /**
+     * The format to use when formatting a time using `Time::timeAgoInWords()`
+     * and the difference is less than `Time::$wordEnd`
+     *
+     * @var array
+     * @see \Cake\I18n\Date::timeAgoInWords()
+     */
+    public static $wordAccuracy = [
+        'year' => "day",
+        'month' => "day",
+        'week' => "day",
+        'day' => "day",
+        'hour' => "day",
+        'minute' => "day",
+        'second' => "day",
+    ];
+
+    /**
+     * The end of relative time telling
+     *
+     * @var string
+     * @see \Cake\I18n\Date::timeAgoInWords()
+     */
+    public static $wordEnd = '+1 month';
+
+    /**
+     * Returns either a relative or a formatted absolute date depending
+     * on the difference between the current date and this object.
+     *
+     * ### Options:
+     *
+     * - `from` => another Date object representing the "now" date
+     * - `format` => a fall back format if the relative time is longer than the duration specified by end
+     * - `accuracy` => Specifies how accurate the date should be described (array)
+     *    - year =>   The format if years > 0   (default "day")
+     *    - month =>  The format if months > 0  (default "day")
+     *    - week =>   The format if weeks > 0   (default "day")
+     *    - day =>    The format if weeks > 0   (default "day")
+     * - `end` => The end of relative date telling
+     * - `relativeString` => The printf compatible string when outputting relative date
+     * - `absoluteString` => The printf compatible string when outputting absolute date
+     * - `timezone` => The user timezone the timestamp should be formatted in.
+     *
+     * Relative dates look something like this:
+     *
+     * - 3 weeks, 4 days ago
+     * - 1 day ago
+     *
+     * Default date formatting is d/M/YY e.g: on 18/2/09. Formatting is done internally using
+     * `i18nFormat`, see the method for the valid formatting strings.
+     *
+     * The returned string includes 'ago' or 'on' and assumes you'll properly add a word
+     * like 'Posted ' before the function output.
+     *
+     * NOTE: If the difference is one week or more, the lowest level of accuracy is day.
+     *
+     * @param array $options Array of options.
+     * @return string Relative time string.
+     */
+    public function timeAgoInWords(array $options = [])
+    {
+        $date = $this;
+
+        $options += [
+            'from' => static::now(),
+            'timezone' => null,
+            'format' => static::$wordFormat,
+            'accuracy' => static::$wordAccuracy,
+            'end' => static::$wordEnd,
+            'relativeString' => __d('cake', '%s ago'),
+            'absoluteString' => __d('cake', 'on %s'),
+        ];
+        if (is_string($options['accuracy'])) {
+            foreach (static::$wordAccuracy as $key => $level) {
+                $options[$key] = $options['accuracy'];
+            }
+        } else {
+            $options['accuracy'] += static::$wordAccuracy;
+        }
+        if ($options['timezone']) {
+            $date = $date->timezone($options['timezone']);
+        }
+
+        $now = $options['from']->format('U');
+        $inSeconds = $date->format('U');
+        $backwards = ($inSeconds > $now);
+
+        $futureTime = $now;
+        $pastTime = $inSeconds;
+        if ($backwards) {
+            $futureTime = $inSeconds;
+            $pastTime = $now;
+        }
+        $diff = $futureTime - $pastTime;
+
+        if (!$diff) {
+            return __d('cake', 'today');
+        }
+
+        if ($diff > abs($now - (new static($options['end']))->format('U'))) {
+            return sprintf($options['absoluteString'], $date->i18nFormat($options['format']));
+        }
+
+        // If more than a week, then take into account the length of months
+        if ($diff >= 604800) {
+            list($future['H'], $future['i'], $future['s'], $future['d'], $future['m'], $future['Y']) = explode('/', date('H/i/s/d/m/Y', $futureTime));
+
+            list($past['H'], $past['i'], $past['s'], $past['d'], $past['m'], $past['Y']) = explode('/', date('H/i/s/d/m/Y', $pastTime));
+            $weeks = $days = $hours = $minutes = $seconds = 0;
+
+            $years = $future['Y'] - $past['Y'];
+            $months = $future['m'] + ((12 * $years) - $past['m']);
+
+            if ($months >= 12) {
+                $years = floor($months / 12);
+                $months = $months - ($years * 12);
+            }
+            if ($future['m'] < $past['m'] && $future['Y'] - $past['Y'] === 1) {
+                $years--;
+            }
+
+            if ($future['d'] >= $past['d']) {
+                $days = $future['d'] - $past['d'];
+            } else {
+                $daysInPastMonth = date('t', $pastTime);
+                $daysInFutureMonth = date('t', mktime(0, 0, 0, $future['m'] - 1, 1, $future['Y']));
+
+                if (!$backwards) {
+                    $days = ($daysInPastMonth - $past['d']) + $future['d'];
+                } else {
+                    $days = ($daysInFutureMonth - $past['d']) + $future['d'];
+                }
+
+                if ($future['m'] != $past['m']) {
+                    $months--;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (!$months && $years >= 1 && $diff < ($years * 31536000)) {
+                $months = 11;
+                $years--;
+            }
+
+            if ($months >= 12) {
+                $years = $years + 1;
+                $months = $months - 12;
+            }
+
+            if ($days >= 7) {
+                $weeks = floor($days / 7);
+                $days = $days - ($weeks * 7);
+            }
+        } else {
+            $years = $months = $weeks = 0;
+            $days = floor($diff / 86400);
+
+            $diff = $diff - ($days * 86400);
+
+            $hours = floor($diff / 3600);
+            $diff = $diff - ($hours * 3600);
+
+            $minutes = floor($diff / 60);
+            $diff = $diff - ($minutes * 60);
+            $seconds = $diff;
+        }
+
+        $fWord = $options['accuracy']['day'];
+        if ($years > 0) {
+            $fWord = $options['accuracy']['year'];
+        } elseif (abs($months) > 0) {
+            $fWord = $options['accuracy']['month'];
+        } elseif (abs($weeks) > 0) {
+            $fWord = $options['accuracy']['week'];
+        } elseif (abs($days) > 0) {
+            $fWord = $options['accuracy']['day'];
+        }
+
+        $fNum = str_replace(['year', 'month', 'week', 'day'], [1, 2, 3, 4], $fWord);
+
+        $relativeDate = '';
+        if ($fNum >= 1 && $years > 0) {
+            $relativeDate .= ($relativeDate ? ', ' : '') . __dn('cake', '{0} year', '{0} years', $years, $years);
+        }
+        if ($fNum >= 2 && $months > 0) {
+            $relativeDate .= ($relativeDate ? ', ' : '') . __dn('cake', '{0} month', '{0} months', $months, $months);
+        }
+        if ($fNum >= 3 && $weeks > 0) {
+            $relativeDate .= ($relativeDate ? ', ' : '') . __dn('cake', '{0} week', '{0} weeks', $weeks, $weeks);
+        }
+        if ($fNum >= 4 && $days > 0) {
+            $relativeDate .= ($relativeDate ? ', ' : '') . __dn('cake', '{0} day', '{0} days', $days, $days);
+        }
+
+        // When time has passed
+        if (!$backwards && $relativeDate) {
+            return sprintf($options['relativeString'], $relativeDate);
+        }
+        if (!$backwards) {
+            $aboutAgo = [
+                'day' => __d('cake', 'about a day ago'),
+                'week' => __d('cake', 'about a week ago'),
+                'month' => __d('cake', 'about a month ago'),
+                'year' => __d('cake', 'about a year ago')
+            ];
+
+            return $aboutAgo[$fWord];
+        }
+
+        // When time is to come
+        if (!$relativeDate) {
+            $aboutIn = [
+                'day' => __d('cake', 'in about a day'),
+                'week' => __d('cake', 'in about a week'),
+                'month' => __d('cake', 'in about a month'),
+                'year' => __d('cake', 'in about a year')
+            ];
+
+            return $aboutIn[$fWord];
+        }
+
+        return $relativeDate;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/I18n/DateTest.php b/tests/TestCase/I18n/DateTest.php
index 9fe0c699166..4f26093ba49 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/I18n/DateTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/I18n/DateTest.php
@@ -152,4 +152,278 @@ public function testParseDateTime()
         $date = Date::parseDate('13 10, 2015 12:54:12');
         $this->assertEquals('2015-10-13 00:00:00', $date->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'));
     }
+
+    /**
+     * provider for timeAgoInWords() tests
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public static function timeAgoProvider()
+    {
+        return [
+            ['-12 seconds', 'today'],
+            ['-12 minutes', 'today'],
+            ['-2 hours', 'today'],
+            ['-1 day', '1 day ago'],
+            ['-2 days', '2 days ago'],
+            ['-1 week', '1 week ago'],
+            ['-2 weeks -2 days', '2 weeks, 2 days ago'],
+            ['+1 second', 'today'],
+            ['+1 minute, +10 seconds', 'today'],
+            ['+1 week', '1 week'],
+            ['+1 week 1 day', '1 week, 1 day'],
+            ['+2 weeks 2 day', '2 weeks, 2 days'],
+            ['2007-9-24', 'on 9/24/07'],
+            ['now', 'today'],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * testTimeAgoInWords method
+     *
+     * @dataProvider timeAgoProvider
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testTimeAgoInWords($input, $expected)
+    {
+        $date = new Date($input);
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords();
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * test the timezone option for timeAgoInWords
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testTimeAgoInWordsTimezone()
+    {
+        $date = new Date('1990-07-31 20:33:00 UTC');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(
+            [
+                'timezone' => 'America/Vancouver',
+                'end' => '+1month',
+                'format' => 'dd-MM-YYYY'
+            ]
+        );
+        $this->assertEquals('on 31-07-1990', $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * provider for timeAgo with an end date.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function timeAgoEndProvider()
+    {
+        return [
+            [
+                '+4 months +2 weeks +3 days',
+                '4 months, 2 weeks, 3 days',
+                '8 years'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+4 months +2 weeks +1 day',
+                '4 months, 2 weeks, 1 day',
+                '8 years'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+3 months +2 weeks',
+                '3 months, 2 weeks',
+                '8 years'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+3 months +2 weeks +1 day',
+                '3 months, 2 weeks, 1 day',
+                '8 years'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+1 months +1 week +1 day',
+                '1 month, 1 week, 1 day',
+                '8 years'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+2 months +2 days',
+                '2 months, 2 days',
+                '+2 months +2 days'
+            ],
+            [
+                '+2 months +12 days',
+                '2 months, 1 week, 5 days',
+                '3 months'
+            ],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * test the end option for timeAgoInWords
+     *
+     * @dataProvider timeAgoEndProvider
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testTimeAgoInWordsEnd($input, $expected, $end)
+    {
+        $time = new Date($input);
+        $result = $time->timeAgoInWords(['end' => $end]);
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * test the custom string options for timeAgoInWords
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testTimeAgoInWordsCustomStrings()
+    {
+        $date = new Date('-8 years -4 months -2 weeks -3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'relativeString' => 'at least %s ago',
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'year'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = 'at least 8 years ago';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+4 months +2 weeks +3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'absoluteString' => 'exactly on %s',
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'year'],
+            'end' => '+2 months'
+        ]);
+        $expected = 'exactly on ' . date('n/j/y', strtotime('+4 months +2 weeks +3 days'));
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test the accuracy option for timeAgoInWords()
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testDateAgoInWordsAccuracy()
+    {
+        $date = new Date('+8 years +4 months +2 weeks +3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'year'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = '8 years';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+8 years +4 months +2 weeks +3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'month'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = '8 years, 4 months';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+8 years +4 months +2 weeks +3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'week'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = '8 years, 4 months, 2 weeks';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+8 years +4 months +2 weeks +3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'day'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = '8 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, 3 days';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+1 years +5 weeks');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => ['year' => 'year'],
+            'end' => '+10 years'
+        ]);
+        $expected = '1 year';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+23 hours');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords([
+            'accuracy' => 'day'
+        ]);
+        $expected = 'today';
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test the format option of timeAgoInWords()
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testDateAgoInWordsWithFormat()
+    {
+        $date = new Date('2007-9-25');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertEquals('on 2007-09-25', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('2007-9-25');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertEquals('on 2007-09-25', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+2 weeks +2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertRegExp('/^2 weeks, [1|2] day(s)?$/', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('+2 months +2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '1 month', 'format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertEquals('on ' . date('Y-m-d', strtotime('+2 months +2 days')), $result);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * test timeAgoInWords() with negative values.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testDateAgoInWordsNegativeValues()
+    {
+        $date = new Date('-2 months -2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '3 month']);
+        $this->assertEquals('2 months, 2 days ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-2 months -2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '3 month']);
+        $this->assertEquals('2 months, 2 days ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-2 months -2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '1 month', 'format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertEquals('on ' . date('Y-m-d', strtotime('-2 months -2 days')), $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-2 years -5 months -2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '3 years']);
+        $this->assertEquals('2 years, 5 months, 2 days ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-2 weeks -2 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['format' => 'yyyy-MM-dd']);
+        $this->assertEquals('2 weeks, 2 days ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-3 years -12 months');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords();
+        $expected = 'on ' . $date->format('n/j/y');
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-1 month -1 week -6 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(
+            ['end' => '1 year', 'accuracy' => ['month' => 'month']]
+        );
+        $this->assertEquals('1 month ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-1 years -2 weeks -3 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(
+            ['accuracy' => ['year' => 'year']]
+        );
+        $expected = 'on ' . $date->format('n/j/y');
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-13 months -5 days');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['end' => '2 years']);
+        $this->assertEquals('1 year, 1 month, 5 days ago', $result);
+
+        $date = new Date('-23 hours');
+        $result = $date->timeAgoInWords(['accuracy' => 'day']);
+        $this->assertEquals('today', $result);
+    }
 }