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antiguas

an-TEE-gwasanˈtiɣwas

“antiguas” means “old” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

old, ancient

Also: antique
A pair of worn-out, scuffed brown leather boots sitting on a stone floor, showing clear signs of age and use.

📝 In Action

Las monedas que encontraron son muy antiguas.

A2

The coins they found are very old (ancient).

Me encanta visitar ciudades con murallas antiguas.

B1

I love visiting cities with ancient walls.

Estas son recetas de mi abuela, son las más antiguas de la familia.

A1

These are my grandmother's recipes; they are the oldest in the family.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • viejas (old)
  • ancestrales (ancestral)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • civilizaciones antiguas – ancient civilizations
  • tradiciones antiguas – old traditions

former, previous

Also: ex-
Two large, ornate, tarnished brass keys hanging unused on a wooden peg, representing former responsibilities or positions.

📝 In Action

Ellas eran mis antiguas compañeras de trabajo.

B1

They were my former/previous colleagues.

Las antiguas oficinas estaban en el centro de la ciudad.

B1

The former offices were in the city center.

A veces me encuentro con mis antiguas amigas de la escuela.

B2

Sometimes I run into my old/former school friends.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • previas (previous)
  • ex (ex)

Antonyms

  • actuales (current)
  • nuevas (new)

Common Collocations

  • antiguas alumnas – former students (f)
  • antiguas creencias – previous beliefs

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: antiguas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'antiguas' to mean 'former'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
antiguo(old, ancient (masculine singular)) — Adjective
antigüedad(antiquity, age) — Noun
antiguamente(formerly, in ancient times) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
aguasfragancias
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'antiguo' comes from the Latin word *antīquus*, which means 'ancient, venerable, or former.' This root is why the Spanish word has two main meanings: one about age and one about time/status.

First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: anticoFrench: antique

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'antiguas' and 'viejas'?

'Antiguas' refers to something being ancient, classic, or former (like an ancient city or a former job). 'Viejas' refers generally to something being old or worn out, and can sometimes be seen as slightly rude when describing people.

Why does 'antiguas' have an 's' at the end?

The '-as' ending shows that the word is describing more than one thing (plural) and that those things are feminine (like 'casas' or 'culturas').