viejas
“viejas” means “old” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
old, aged
Also: former
📝 In Action
Las tradiciones viejas son las más bonitas.
A1The old traditions are the prettiest ones.
Compramos unas sillas viejas para restaurarlas.
A2We bought some old chairs to restore them.
Esas ideas son muy viejas; necesitamos algo nuevo.
B1Those ideas are very old; we need something new.
old women, elderly women
📝 In Action
Las viejas del pueblo se juntan a jugar a las cartas.
A2The old women in the town gather to play cards.
Hay que respetar a las viejas.
B1One must respect the elderly women.
girls, pals
Also: wife/partner
📝 In Action
Voy a salir con mis viejas esta noche.
B2I'm going out with my girls/pals tonight.
¿Dónde están las viejas? Llevan horas de retraso.
C1Where are the girls? They are hours late.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: viejas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'viejas' in its slang context (meaning friends)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'viejo' comes from the Latin word *vetulus*, which was a diminutive (a smaller, affectionate version) of *vetus*, meaning 'old.' This connection shows how the word has always referred to age.
First recorded: Around the 11th century (as 'vieio')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'viejas' always disrespectful when referring to women?
No, it depends entirely on the context and region. As a descriptive noun ('las viejas'), it is neutral but can sound blunt; it’s safer to use 'mujeres mayores.' However, in many parts of Latin America, 'mis viejas' is an affectionate and common slang term for 'my friends/pals' and is not disrespectful at all.
If I am describing a group of old men and women, should I still use 'viejas'?
No. When you have a mixed group (masculine and feminine), Spanish defaults to the masculine plural form: 'viejos.' You would say 'los viejos' to refer to a mixed group of old people.