viejo
/byeh-ho/
old
As an adjective, viejo means 'old,' referring to the age or duration of people or things.
viejo(Adjective)
old
?referring to the age of people or the duration of things
ancient
?for objects, like an old book or city
,longtime
?when placed before the noun (e.g., 'un viejo amigo')
📝 In Action
Mi coche es muy viejo, pero todavía funciona.
A1My car is very old, but it still works.
Tengo una colección de libros viejos.
A2I have a collection of old books.
Juan es un viejo amigo de la universidad.
B1Juan is a longtime friend from college.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun It Describes
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'viejo' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'vieja' for feminine things ('una casa vieja') and add an 's' for plural things ('los coches viejos', 'las casas viejas').
Placement Changes the Meaning
Where you put 'viejo' matters! Placed after, it means old in age: 'un amigo viejo' (an elderly friend). Placed before, it means longtime or of long standing: 'un viejo amigo' (a friend you've known for a long time).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Sounding a Little Rude
Mistake: "Calling an older person you don't know 'un viejo'."
Correction: It's much more polite to say 'un señor mayor' or 'un anciano'. While not always offensive, 'viejo' can sound blunt, like calling someone 'an oldie'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Care for People
When describing people, 'viejo' can be a bit direct. The word 'mayor' (older) is often a gentler and more polite choice. For example, 'mi abuelo es mayor' sounds kinder than 'mi abuelo es viejo'.
As a noun, viejo means 'old man' (or informally, 'dad' or 'mate').
viejo(Noun)
old man
?an elderly man
dad / old man
?colloquial, affectionate term for one's father
,dude / mate
?very colloquial, used between male friends in some regions
📝 In Action
Un viejo amable me ayudó a cruzar la calle.
A2A kind old man helped me cross the street.
Mi viejo siempre cuenta las mejores historias.
B1My dad (my old man) always tells the best stories.
¡Qué pasa, viejo! ¿Todo bien?
B2What's up, dude! All good?
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine and Plural Forms
As a noun, it also changes for gender and number. 'Una vieja' is an old woman, 'los viejos' can mean 'the old people' or 'one's parents', and 'las viejas' means 'the old women'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Affectionate vs. Disrespectful
Context is everything! 'Mi viejo' (my dad) is affectionate. Calling a friend 'viejo' can be like saying 'dude'. But calling a stranger 'viejo' can be disrespectful. When in doubt, use 'señor'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: viejo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'He is my longtime friend'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to call someone 'viejo'?
It can be. For strangers or in formal situations, it's much more polite to use 'señor' or 'hombre mayor'. Among close friends or family ('mi viejo' for 'my dad'), it can be an affectionate term, but it depends heavily on the relationship and tone.
What's the difference between 'viejo' and 'antiguo'?
'Viejo' is a general word for 'old' and is used for people and everyday objects, like 'un coche viejo' (an old car). 'Antiguo' is usually for things that are old and have historical or artistic value, like 'un mueble antiguo' (an antique piece of furniture).
How do I say 'my parents' using 'viejo'?
In many places, especially in Latin America, you can informally and affectionately say 'mis viejos' to mean 'my parents' or 'my folks'.