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viejos

/VYAY-hoss/

old

A pair of heavily worn, cracked brown leather boots lying on a wooden floor, showing signs of age and extensive use.

When viejos is used as an adjective, it means "old" and describes the age or condition of things (plural).

viejos(adjective)

mA1

old

?

describing age or condition (plural, masculine/mixed group)

Also:

ancient

?

describing objects or history

,

former

?

describing a past position or relationship

📝 In Action

Los edificios viejos están en el centro de la ciudad.

A1

The old buildings are downtown.

Tengo dos viejos amigos que viven en Madrid.

A2

I have two old friends (long-standing friends) who live in Madrid.

Esos viejos pantalones ya no me quedan.

A1

Those old pants don't fit me anymore.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • antiguos (old, antique)
  • mayores (older, elderly)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • viejos hábitos – old habits
  • viejos tiempos – old times

Idioms & Expressions

  • Cuentas viejas, amistades nuevas. – Settle old scores to keep new friendships.

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number Matching

Since 'viejos' describes masculine or mixed-gender nouns (like 'libros' or 'padres'), it must end in '-os'. For feminine plural nouns, use 'viejas'.

Placement Changes Meaning

When 'viejos' comes BEFORE the noun (e.g., 'mis viejos amigos'), it usually means 'long-time' or 'dear'. When it comes AFTER (e.g., 'muebles viejos'), it simply means 'aged' or 'not new'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Singular/Plural

Mistake: "Using 'viejo' to describe multiple items."

Correction: Remember to add the '-s' for plural: 'dos perros viejos'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Being Sensitive

While 'viejos' is common, some prefer 'mayores' (older) when referring respectfully to older people, especially in formal settings.

Two cheerful elderly people, a man and a woman, sitting together on a green park bench and smiling.

As a noun, viejos refers to "old people" or "the elderly."

viejos(noun)

mB1

old people

?

the elderly (collective noun)

,

parents

?

informal use, refers to 'my folks' or 'my mother and father'

Also:

the folks

?

informal, referring to family

📝 In Action

El gobierno debería cuidar mejor a los viejos.

B1

The government should take better care of the elderly.

¿Vas a visitar a tus viejos este fin de semana?

B2

Are you going to visit your parents this weekend?

Cuando mis viejos se mudaron, me quedé con la casa.

B2

When my folks moved out, I kept the house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ancianos (elderly people)
  • padres (parents (formal))

Antonyms

  • niños (children)
  • jóvenes (young people)

Common Collocations

  • ir con los viejos – to go with the parents
  • cuidar a los viejos – to look after the elderly

💡 Grammar Points

The Masculine Plural Rule

In Spanish, the masculine plural form ('viejos') is often used to talk about a group of people that includes both males and females (e.g., 'mis viejos' means both mother and father).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun/Adjective

Mistake: "Using 'viejos' as a noun when you are trying to describe an object, e.g., 'Mi coche es viejos'."

Correction: If describing one thing, use the singular adjective: 'Mi coche es viejo'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Informal Family Talk

Using 'mis viejos' instead of 'mis padres' is very natural and common in conversation, signaling a close, comfortable relationship with your parents.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: viejos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'viejos' to mean 'parents'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'viejos' a disrespectful way to refer to elderly people?

In general, 'viejos' is neutral when describing objects or talking about 'the elderly' collectively. However, when addressing someone directly, it is usually more polite to use 'mayores' (older) or 'señores' (sirs/ladies).

Can 'mis viejos' refer only to my mother?

No. Because 'viejos' is the masculine plural form, it is used when referring to a mixed-gender group (mother and father). If you were only talking about your mother, you would use 'mi vieja' (singular feminine, which can be much more informal or regional).