I agree with Michael - A while ago is some time in the past, probably further back than 'recently.' Have I done my homework? Yes, I did it a while ago (a few hours ago). Have I washed my car? Not recently, but I did it a while ago (last month) Actually I am lying. I haven't washed my car for ages!

"a while ago" refers to a very unspecific time in the past. When I use it, the time is usually before "recently". ("Already" is used in a different way). When using "recently", the event is still in my conscious memory but I am not thinking of the precise time when it started. e.g. "Recently, I started learning Italian" I use "a while ago" when someone talks to me about something they have done or are doing and I am thinking if I have done something similar. The precise time in the past doesn't matter when you say "a while ago" but it is usually earlier than something which happened "recently". e.g. Friend: I am going to Italy next week on holiday. Me: Oh really! I went there a while ago too.

Not recently, but also not a long time ago. Somewhere in between.

I think its : I few time before