mayor
/mah-YOR/
older
Mayor means older or elder, often used to compare ages, like an older brother (hermano mayor).
mayor(Adjective)
older
?referring to age
elder
?referring to age
,eldest
?when used with an article like 'el' or 'la'
📝 In Action
Mi hermano mayor tiene veinte años.
A1My older brother is twenty years old.
Ella es la mayor de la familia.
A2She is the eldest in the family.
Soy dos años mayor que tú.
A2I am two years older than you.
💡 Grammar Points
Doesn't Change for Gender
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'mayor' doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine. It's 'el chico mayor' and 'la chica mayor'.
Special Comparative Word
In Spanish, 'older' is a special case. Instead of saying 'más viejo' (more old), you almost always use 'mayor' when talking about people's age. It's more natural and polite.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'más viejo'
Mistake: "Mi hermana es más vieja que yo."
Correction: Mi hermana es mayor que yo. Using 'viejo' for a person can sound a bit rude, like calling them 'old'. 'Mayor' is the standard, polite way to say 'older'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Comparing Ages
When you compare two people's ages, the structure is simple: [Person 1] es mayor que [Person 2].
Mayor can mean greater or main, referring to importance or scale, as in Plaza Mayor (main square).
mayor(Adjective)
greater
?in importance or degree
,bigger
?in scale or size, but not just physical
main
?as in 'the main square'
,major
?as in 'a major problem'
,larger
?in quantity or extent
📝 In Action
La contaminación es el mayor problema de la ciudad.
B1Pollution is the city's biggest problem.
La Plaza Mayor es muy bonita.
A2The main square is very beautiful.
Este proyecto requiere una inversión mayor.
B2This project requires a greater investment.
💡 Grammar Points
'Mayor' vs. 'Más Grande'
Use 'mayor' for abstract things like importance, difficulty, or concern. Use 'más grande' when you're talking about physical size. For example, 'un problema mayor' (a bigger problem) but 'una casa más grande' (a bigger house).
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Major'
A great way to remember this meaning is to connect it to the English word 'major'. If you can say 'a major problem' or 'the major reason' in English, you can probably use 'mayor' in Spanish.
Mayor is used in the phrase mayor de edad (of legal age), meaning someone is legally considered an adult.
📝 In Action
Tienes que ser mayor de edad para votar.
B1You have to be of legal age to vote.
Cuando seas mayor de edad, podrás conducir solo.
B1When you are of legal age, you will be able to drive alone.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always with 'de edad'
This meaning almost always appears in the full phrase 'ser mayor de edad'. Think of it as a single vocabulary item to learn.
When used as a noun (los mayores), it is a polite term meaning elderly people or senior citizens.
mayor(Noun)
elderly person
?polite term
,senior citizen
?often used for discounts, etc.
adult
?as in 'for adults only'
,senior
?respectful term for an older person
📝 In Action
Debemos cuidar a nuestros mayores.
B1We must take care of our elders.
Hay un descuento para mayores en el museo.
B1There is a discount for senior citizens at the museum.
Esta película es solo para mayores.
B2This movie is for adults only.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Los' or 'Las'
When used as a noun, you'll almost always see it with an article like 'los mayores' (the elderly people/men) or 'las mayores' (the elderly women).
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite and Respectful
Using 'los mayores' is a very respectful and common way to talk about elderly people. It's much more polite than 'los viejos'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mayor
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mayor' to mean 'main' or 'most important'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mayor' and 'más grande'?
Great question! Use 'mayor' for age ('older') and importance ('greater', 'main'). Use 'más grande' for physical size ('bigger'). For example, you have an 'hermano mayor' (older brother) and you live in a 'casa más grande' (bigger house).
Is 'mayor' masculine or feminine?
'Mayor' is special because it doesn't change for gender. It's the same for both! You say 'el hombre mayor' (the older man) and 'la mujer mayor' (the older woman). The word 'mayor' stays the same.
How do I say 'oldest' instead of just 'older'?
It's easy! You just add 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' before it. For example, 'Mi hermano es mayor' means 'My brother is older'. But 'Mi hermano es el mayor' means 'My brother is the oldest'.