Inklingo

How to Say "old" in Spanish

English → Spanish

viejo

byeh-ho'bjexo

adjectiveA1general
Use 'viejo' to describe the age of people (though sometimes considered less formal than 'anciano') or the duration or age of inanimate objects.
A close-up of a severely worn-out, cracked brown leather hiking boot, showing deep creases and scuffed edges from long use.

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'.

antiguo

an-TEE-gwohanˈtiɣwo

adjectiveA1general
Use 'antiguo' to refer to things that are old in terms of historical period, antiquity, or that have existed for a long time.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration of a dusty, very old wooden toy chest showing cracks and fading, symbolizing age.

Examples

Este castillo es muy antiguo, fue construido en el siglo XII.

This castle is very old; it was built in the 12th century.

Me encanta la música antigua, como el jazz de los años 20.

I love old music, like jazz from the 20s.

La civilización maya es una civilización antigua.

The Mayan civilization is an ancient civilization.

Making it Match

As an adjective, 'antiguo' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'antiguo' (masculine singular), 'antigua' (feminine singular), 'antiguos' (masculine plural), and 'antiguas' (feminine plural).

Antiguo vs. Viejo

Mistake: “Using 'antiguo' to describe people's age (e.g., 'Mi abuelo es muy antiguo').”

Correction: Use 'viejo' or, more politely, 'mayor' when describing the age of a person. 'Antiguo' is better for objects, places, or historical concepts.

anciano

ahn-SYAH-nohanˈθjano

adjectiveA2formal
Use 'anciano' exclusively to describe elderly people, often implying respect or a more formal context.
A massive, ancient oak tree with deeply gnarled bark and sprawling, visible roots, standing alone in a green field.

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

Learners often confuse 'viejo' and 'antiguo'. Remember that 'viejo' applies to the age of both people and things, while 'antiguo' is best for historical objects or things from a past era.

Related Translations

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