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mayores

mah-YOH-rehs/maˈʝoɾes/

“mayores” means “older” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

older, bigger

Also: greater, senior
A tall adult with slightly graying hair smiling down warmly at a much shorter, younger child, illustrating the comparison of ages.

📝 In Action

Mis hijos mayores ya están en la universidad.

A1

My older children are already in university.

Necesitamos vehículos mayores para transportar todo el equipo.

A2

We need bigger vehicles to transport all the equipment.

Los desafíos de este proyecto son mayores de lo que pensamos.

B1

The challenges of this project are greater than we thought.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • menores (younger, smaller)
  • más pequeños (smaller)

Common Collocations

  • problemas mayores – major problems
  • hermanos mayores – older siblings

elders, adults

Also: superiors
NounmA2
A group of three senior citizens with kind faces sitting together on a park bench, illustrating the concept of elders.

📝 In Action

Debemos escuchar los consejos de nuestros mayores.

A2

We must listen to the advice of our elders (or parents/superiors).

La entrada al museo es gratuita para los mayores.

A1

Museum entry is free for seniors.

El club organiza actividades solo para mayores de edad.

B1

The club organizes activities only for adults (people of legal age).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adultos (adults)
  • gente mayor (older people)

Antonyms

  • niños (children)
  • jóvenes (young people)

Common Collocations

  • respetar a los mayores – to respect the elders
  • cuidado de mayores – elderly care

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mayores" in Spanish:

adults→bigger→elders→greater→older→senior→superiors→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mayores

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'mayores' to mean 'older people'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

'Mayores' comes from the Latin word *maior*, meaning 'greater' or 'superior.' This is why it serves as the irregular comparative form of 'grande' (big) and 'viejo' (old) in Spanish, meaning it already contains the idea of 'more'.

First recorded: Medieval Latin texts (as *maior*); Spanish usage solidified by the 13th century.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: maggioreFrench: majeur

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the singular form of 'mayores'?

The singular form is 'mayor.' It can mean 'older' (Mi hermana es mayor) or 'bigger' (El coche es mayor).

Can 'mayores' refer to things that aren't age-related?

Yes! While often used for age, 'mayores' can mean 'bigger' in size or 'greater' in importance or magnitude, like 'Tenemos mayores responsabilidades' (We have greater responsibilities).