Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Old" in Spanish: viejo/a
viejo/a
Old is viejo for masculine and vieja for feminine. Fine for things: un carro viejo. For people, viejo can sound rude; mayor or de edad is safer in polite talk.
How to pronounce viejo: audio and sound guideAbout a car
Vendí mi carro viejo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce viejo/a
Say it
VYEH-hoh / VYEH-hah
/ˈbjexo/
VYEH-hoh / VYEH-hah. Stress VYEH. The j in viejo sounds like a strong h.
"Old" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| viejo / vieja | old Default for things; careful with people. | Default for things; careful with people. |
| mayor | older; elderly (polite) Una persona mayor sounds more respectful than vieja. | Una persona mayor sounds more respectful than vieja. |
| antiguo / antigua | old; ancient; former History or "former": un amigo antiguo. | History or "former": un amigo antiguo. |
| mi viejo / mi vieja | my dad / my mom (colloquial) Affectionate family slang in some countries; not for strangers. | Affectionate family slang in some countries; not for strangers. |
How to use viejo/a in real life
- 1About a car
Vendí mi carro viejo.
I sold my old car.
Viejo is natural for things.
- 2Clothes
Estos zapatos están viejos.
These shoes are old.
Viejos is masculine plural.
- 3A building
Vivimos en una casa vieja.
We live in an old house.
Vieja agrees with casa.
Mistakes English speakers make with viejo/a
Incorrect: Ella es una mujer vieja. (said rudely to her face)
Correct: Ella es una mujer mayor.
Vieja about a person can sound harsh. Mayor is safer; keep viejo for objects.
Incorrect: Un libro vieja.
Correct: Un libro viejo.
Libro is masculine. Use viejo with it.
Good to know
Good to knowIn some countries mi viejo or mi vieja can mean dad or mom among family, with warmth. With strangers, calling someone viejo still risks sounding rude. Prefer mayor for polite age talk.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Sorting clothes to donate
ChatPal
¿Tiramos este suéter viejo?
Should we throw out this old sweater?
You
Sí, está muy viejo y roto.
Yes, it's very old and torn.
ChatPal
Esta camisa también se ve vieja.
This shirt looks old too.
You
La donamos si aún sirve.
We'll donate it if it still works.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Old" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Old" in Spanish
Viejo or vieja?
Viejo with masculine nouns, vieja with feminine. Match the noun.
Is it rude to call a person viejo?
It can be. For polite speech use mayor. Save viejo for things unless you know the tone.
How do you pronounce viejo?
VYEH-hoh. The j sounds like a strong English h.
What is antiguo compared with viejo?
Antiguo often means ancient or former. Viejo is the everyday "old" for worn things.
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