How to Say "old" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “old” is “viejo” — use 'viejo' to describe the age of people or the duration/age of inanimate objects and concepts..
viejo
/byeh-ho//'bjexo/
Examples
Mi coche es muy viejo, pero todavía funciona.
My car is very old, but it still works.
Tengo una colección de libros viejos.
I have a collection of old books.
Juan es un viejo amigo de la universidad.
Juan is a longtime friend from college.
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).
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'.
antigua
an-TEE-gwah/anˈtiɣwa/
Examples
Esta es una ciudad muy antigua con mucha historia.
This is a very old city with a lot of history.
La casa de mi abuela tiene una arquitectura antigua y preciosa.
My grandmother's house has beautiful old (or antique) architecture.
La civilización egipcia es muy antigua.
The Egyptian civilization is very ancient.
Mi antigua jefa me llamó para pedirme un favor.
My former boss (female) called me to ask for a favor.
Gender Agreement
Since 'antigua' ends in 'a', it is the feminine form. You must use it when describing feminine nouns (like 'casa' or 'mesa'). If the noun were masculine (like 'libro'), you would use 'antiguo'.
Confusing 'antigua' and 'vieja'
Mistake: “Using 'vieja' to mean 'ancient' or 'historic'.”
Correction: 'Vieja' often implies deterioration or simply age, while 'antigua' is better for historical value or long-standing quality. Use 'antigua' for historic buildings or artifacts.
anciano
ahn-SYAH-noh/anˈθjano/
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.
Choosing between 'viejo' and 'antiguo/a'
Related Translations
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