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viejo

byeh-ho/'bjexo/

“viejo” means “old” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

old

Also: ancient, longtime
A close-up of a severely worn-out, cracked brown leather hiking boot, showing deep creases and scuffed edges from long use.

📝 In Action

Mi coche es muy viejo, pero todavía funciona.

A1

My car is very old, but it still works.

Tengo una colección de libros viejos.

A2

I have a collection of old books.

Juan es un viejo amigo de la universidad.

B1

Juan is a longtime friend from college.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anciano (elderly (more respectful for people))
  • antiguo (antique, ancient (for things))
  • mayor (older, elder (polite for people))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ropa vieja – old clothes
  • vino viejo – aged wine
  • los viejos tiempos – the old days

old man

Also: dad / old man, dude / mate
NounmA2informal
Argentina, Uruguay, and other parts of Latin America
A close-up portrait of an elderly man with gentle eyes, a salt-and-pepper beard, and deeply wrinkled skin, conveying warmth and age.

📝 In Action

Un viejo amable me ayudó a cruzar la calle.

A2

A kind old man helped me cross the street.

Mi viejo siempre cuenta las mejores historias.

B1

My dad (my old man) always tells the best stories.

¡Qué pasa, viejo! ¿Todo bien?

B2

What's up, dude! All good?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "viejo" in Spanish:

ancient→longtime→old→old man→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: viejo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence means 'He is my longtime friend'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
vejez(old age) — Noun
envejecer(to grow old, to age) — Verb
viejito(little old man (often affectionate)) — Noun
viejecita(little old woman (often affectionate)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

It comes from the Latin word 'vetulus', which was a more affectionate or diminutive form of 'vetus', the main Latin word for 'old' or 'aged'.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: velhoItalian: vecchioFrench: vieux

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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'.