vieja
/BYEH-hah/
old
As an adjective, 'vieja' means 'old' or 'worn-out' when describing a feminine noun, like 'una silla vieja' (an old chair).
vieja(Adjective)
old
?describing a feminine person, animal, or thing
worn-out
?referring to objects
,long-standing
?describing a friendship or tradition
📝 In Action
Mi gata es muy vieja, tiene 15 años.
A1My cat is very old, she is 15 years old.
Esta es una tradición muy vieja en mi familia.
A2This is a very old tradition in my family.
Necesito una silla nueva; esta está muy vieja.
B1I need a new chair; this one is very old/worn-out.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) change to match the thing they're describing. Use 'vieja' for feminine things, like 'la casa' (the house) or 'la gata' (the female cat). For masculine things, you'd use 'viejo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Mix-up
Mistake: "La coche es vieja."
Correction: El coche es viejo. The word for car, 'coche', is masculine, so you need to use the masculine form 'viejo' to describe it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Friendship vs. Age
When you say 'una vieja amiga', it means a friend you've known for a long time. If you want to say your friend is elderly, it's clearer and more polite to say 'una amiga mayor'.
As a noun, 'vieja' means 'old woman' or 'old lady,' though more formal terms like 'anciana' are often preferred for respect.
vieja(Noun)
old woman
?can be neutral or slightly disrespectful
old lady
?informal, similar to the English term
📝 In Action
Una vieja simpática me ofreció su asiento en el autobús.
A2A nice old woman offered me her seat on the bus.
En el parque siempre hay un grupo de viejas charlando.
B1In the park, there's always a group of old ladies chatting.
⭐ Usage Tips
Be Careful with Tone
Calling an unknown woman 'vieja' can be rude, like calling someone 'old lady' in English. To be polite and respectful, it's much safer to use 'señora' or 'señora mayor'.
In colloquial Spanish (slang), especially in Latin America, 'mi vieja' is an affectionate term for 'my wife,' 'my girlfriend,' or 'my mom.'
vieja(Noun)
wife
?colloquial, similar to 'my old lady'
,girlfriend
?colloquial, term of endearment
mom
?colloquial, affectionate
📝 In Action
Voy al cine con mi vieja.
B2I'm going to the movies with my girlfriend/wife.
Mi vieja cocina el mejor pozole.
B2My mom makes the best pozole.
⭐ Usage Tips
Know Your Audience
This is very informal language used between friends and family. It can be affectionate, but you wouldn't use it in a formal setting or with people you don't know well. Its meaning changes a lot by country.
✏️ 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
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'.