antiguos
“antiguos” means “old” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
old, ancient
Also: antique
📝 In Action
Estos jarrones chinos son muy antiguos.
A2These Chinese vases are very old/antique.
Los romanos eran pueblos antiguos que construyeron grandes ciudades.
B1The Romans were ancient peoples who built great cities.
former, previous
📝 In Action
Mis antiguos jefes me dieron una buena recomendación.
B1My former bosses gave me a good recommendation.
Los antiguos alumnos visitaron la escuela.
B2The previous students (alumni) visited the school.
the ancients
Also: ancestors
📝 In Action
Los antiguos nos dejaron un gran legado arquitectónico.
B2The ancients left us a great architectural legacy.
Debemos aprender de los errores de nuestros antiguos.
C1We must learn from the mistakes of our ancestors.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: antiguos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'antiguos' to mean 'former' or 'previous'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *antīquus*, which meant 'old, former, ancient.' It has kept both meanings throughout its history in Spanish.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'antiguos' and 'viejos'?
'Antiguos' usually describes things that are old but historically important, or things that refer to a previous time or status (like a 'former boss'). 'Viejos' describes things or people that are simply aged, worn out, or elderly.
Can I use 'antiguos' to describe old people?
It is generally better to use 'viejos' or, more respectfully, 'personas mayores' (older people) or 'ancianos'. While 'antiguos' can refer to 'the ancients' (historical figures), it is not used in modern conversation to describe a person's age.