How to Say "elderly" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “elderly” is “anciano” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi abuelo es un hombre anciano, pero todavía es muy activo.
My grandfather is an old man, but he is still very active.
Vimos una casa anciana abandonada cerca del río.
We saw an ancient abandoned house near the river.
Necesitamos usar formas ancianas de agricultura.
We need to use old forms of agriculture.
Matching the Ending
Like many Spanish descriptions, 'anciano' must change its ending to match the person or thing you are talking about. Use 'anciana' for women or feminine things, 'ancianos' for groups of men or mixed groups, and 'ancianas' for groups of women.
Using 'Viejo' Too Often
Mistake: “Using 'viejo' when referring to someone's age in a formal setting.”
Correction: While 'viejo' means 'old,' 'anciano' is generally a more polite and respectful way to describe an elderly person. Use 'anciano' unless you are very close to the person or the context is clearly casual.
Related Translations
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