nuevo

/nweh-boh/

A shiny new blue bicycle with a price tag hanging from the handlebars, sitting in a bright, modern store.

This bicycle is 'nueva'. It just came from the factory and has never been used before.

nuevo (Adjective)

mA1

brand-new?completely unused, fresh from the factory

Also:new?newly made, recently created

📝 In Action

Compré un teléfono nuevo.

I bought a brand-new phone.

Mi vestido es completamente nuevo, todavía tiene la etiqueta.

My dress is completely new; it still has the tag on it.

¿Hueles eso? Es el olor a coche nuevo.

Do you smell that? It's the new car smell.

Word Connections

Synonyms

flamante (brand-spanking-new)
sin estrenar (unworn, unused)

Antonyms

viejo (old)
usado (used)
antiguo (ancient, old)

Common Collocations

coche nuevo – new car
Año Nuevo – New Year
de nuevo – again, anew

Idioms & Expressions

borrón y cuenta nueva – to make a fresh start, let bygones be bygones

💡 Grammar Points

Placement is Key: After the Noun

When 'nuevo' comes after the thing it describes (like 'coche nuevo'), it almost always means 'brand-new' or 'factory-fresh'.

Matching the Noun

Like most describing words in Spanish, 'nuevo' changes to match the thing it describes: 'nuevo' (masculine singular), 'nueva' (feminine singular), 'nuevos' (masculine plural), 'nuevas' (feminine plural).

⭐ Usage Tips

For Extra Emphasis

To really stress that something is brand-new, you can say 'nuevo, nuevo' or 'completamente nuevo'.

A person smiling while holding a set of keys in front of a pleasant, lived-in house, clearly their new home.

This is their 'nueva casa'. It's not a brand-new building, but it's new *to them*.

nuevo (Adjective)

mA2

new?new to me, a recent acquisition

Also:different?a change from the previous one,another?an additional one

📝 In Action

Tengo un nuevo profesor de español.

I have a new Spanish teacher.

Esta es mi nueva chaqueta. La compré de segunda mano.

This is my new jacket. I bought it second-hand.

Vamos a empezar un nuevo capítulo en nuestras vidas.

We're going to start a new chapter in our lives.

Word Connections

Synonyms

diferente (different)
distinto (distinct, different)

Antonyms

mismo (same)
anterior (previous)

Common Collocations

nuevo amigo – new friend
nueva idea – new idea
nuevo trabajo – new job

💡 Grammar Points

Placement is Key: Before the Noun

When 'nuevo' comes before the thing it describes (like 'mi nuevo coche'), it means it's new to you or different from the one you had before. It could be brand-new, but it could also be used.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Brand-New vs. New-To-Me

Mistake: "Saying 'Tengo un nuevo coche' when you want to emphasize you just bought it from the factory."

Correction: For a factory-fresh car, say 'Tengo un coche nuevo'. The position after the noun makes it clear it's brand-new. 'Un nuevo coche' just means it's a different car than you had before.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking About Life Changes

Use 'nuevo' before the noun to talk about changes: 'nuevo trabajo' (new job), 'nueva casa' (new house), or 'un nuevo amor' (a new love). It's about the change, not about the thing being newly created.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: nuevo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence most clearly means 'I bought a second-hand car that is new for me'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

nuevamente(newly, again) - adverb

renovar(to renew, to renovate) - verb

renovación(renovation, renewal) - noun

novedad(novelty, piece of news) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'nuevo' and 'neuf'/'nouveau' in French?

It's very similar! In French, 'neuf' (like 'coche nuevo') means brand-new, while 'nouveau' (like 'nuevo coche') means new-to-me or different. Spanish simplifies this by using the same word, 'nuevo', and just changing its position.

How do I say 'again' with 'nuevo'?

You can use the phrase 'de nuevo', which literally means 'of new'. For example, 'Inténtalo de nuevo' means 'Try it again'.

I saw 'Año Nuevo'. Why is 'Nuevo' after 'Año'?

Great question! 'Año Nuevo' means 'New Year'. This is a fixed expression where the 'nuevo' refers to a year that is truly brand-new; it has just begun. It follows the pattern of 'thing' + 'brand-new'.