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vieja

BYEH-hah'bjexa

old

Also: worn-out, long-standing
A simple wooden chair that is visibly old, with chipped blue paint and slightly frayed upholstery, illustrating something worn-out.

📝 In Action

Mi gata es muy vieja, tiene 15 años.

A1

My cat is very old, she is 15 years old.

Esta es una tradición muy vieja en mi familia.

A2

This is a very old tradition in my family.

Necesito una silla nueva; esta está muy vieja.

B1

I need a new chair; this one is very old/worn-out.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ropa vieja – old clothes
  • una casa vieja – an old house
  • una amiga vieja – an old friend (friend for a long time)

old woman

Also: old lady
NounfA2informal
An illustration of a kind elderly woman with silver hair, wearing glasses, sitting on a bench.

📝 In Action

Una vieja simpática me ofreció su asiento en el autobús.

A2

A nice old woman offered me her seat on the bus.

En el parque siempre hay un grupo de viejas charlando.

B1

In the park, there's always a group of old ladies chatting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anciana (elderly woman (more respectful))
  • señora mayor (older lady (very respectful))

Antonyms

  • joven (young woman)
  • chica (girl)

wife, girlfriend

Also: mom
NounfB2slang
MexicoArgentinaSpain
A cheerful woman standing in a warm kitchen, stirring a large pot on the stove.

📝 In Action

Voy al cine con mi vieja.

B2

I'm going to the movies with my girlfriend/wife.

Mi vieja cocina el mejor pozole.

B2

My mom makes the best pozole.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: vieja

Question 1 of 1

A friend from Mexico says, 'Voy a cenar con mi vieja.' What does he most likely mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
viejo(old (masculine); old man) — Adjective / Noun
vejez(old age) — Noun
envejecer(to grow old, to age) — Verb
viejito(little old man (affectionate)) — Noun
viejita(little old woman (affectionate)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Vulgar Latin word '*veclus*', which itself is a modified form of the Classical Latin 'vetulus', meaning 'elderly' or 'little old'. It's the feminine form of 'viejo'.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: velhaItalian: vecchiaFrench: vieille

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it rude to call a woman 'vieja' in Spanish?

It can be. If you don't know the person, it's often considered impolite, similar to calling a stranger 'old lady' in English. For respect, it's always better to use 'señora' or 'señora mayor'. However, among friends and family in some countries, it can be a term of endearment for one's mother or partner.

What's the difference between 'vieja' and 'antigua'?

Both can mean 'old', but they have different feelings. Use 'vieja' for people, animals, and everyday objects that are old or worn out ('una silla vieja' - an old chair). Use 'antigua' for things with historical value or charm, like 'una ciudad antigua' (an ancient city) or 'muebles antiguos' (antique furniture). You wouldn't call a person 'antigua'.