Old in Spanish
The Spanish word for 'old' is 'viejo', pronounced BYEH-hoh (IPA: /ˈbjexo/). It is an A1-level adjective and must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes (masculine plural: viejos).
Pronunciation: BYEH-hoh
| Spanish | viejo |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | BYEH-hoh · /ˈbjexo/ |
| Part of speech | adjective |
| Plural | viejos |
| Level | A1 (beginner-friendly) |
Example Sentences with 'viejo'
- Mi coche es muy viejo, pero funciona bien.
My car is very old, but it works well. - Vive en una casa vieja en el centro.
He lives in an old house downtown. - Esos libros viejos eran de mi abuelo.
Those old books belonged to my grandfather. - Ayer me encontré con un viejo amigo.
Yesterday I ran into an old friend.
Common Phrases with 'viejo'
- un viejo amigo
an old (longtime) friend - hacerse viejo
to grow old
How to Use 'viejo'
Position matters: un viejo amigo = a longtime friend, but un amigo viejo = an elderly friend. For people, mayor (older/elderly) is more polite than viejo. To say 'How old are you?' use tener años, not viejo: ¿cuántos años tienes?
Regional note: In Mexico and other countries, mi viejo / mi vieja are affectionate terms for one's father/mother or spouse.
Related Vocabulary
Keep going: review gender and articles in Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
'Old' in Spanish is 'viejo', pronounced BYEH-hoh.
It is spelled v-i-e-j-o.
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