viejos
“viejos” means “old” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
old
Also: ancient, former
📝 In Action
Los edificios viejos están en el centro de la ciudad.
A1The old buildings are downtown.
Tengo dos viejos amigos que viven en Madrid.
A2I have two old friends (long-standing friends) who live in Madrid.
Esos viejos pantalones ya no me quedan.
A1Those old pants don't fit me anymore.
old people, parents
Also: the folks
📝 In Action
El gobierno debería cuidar mejor a los viejos.
B1The government should take better care of the elderly.
¿Vas a visitar a tus viejos este fin de semana?
B2Are you going to visit your parents this weekend?
Cuando mis viejos se mudaron, me quedé con la casa.
B2When my folks moved out, I kept the house.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: viejos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'viejos' to mean 'parents'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *vetulus*, which itself was a diminutive form of *vetus*, meaning 'old' or 'aged'. It has always related to the passage of time.
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish as 'vieyo' or similar forms during the early stages of the language development (around the 11th century).
Cognates (Related words)
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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).