vejez
Lemma Details
Translation: old age; senescence; elderhood; senility
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the Latin 'vetulus' (old, aged), which comes from 'vetus' (old). The Spanish suffix '-ez' forms abstract nouns from adjectives, so 'vejez' literally means 'the state of being old' from 'viejo' (old). This follows a pattern seen in other Spanish abstract nouns like 'niñez' (childhood) from 'niño' (child). The Latin root 'vetus' also gave us English words like 'veteran' and 'inveterate'.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mi abuela lleva su vejez con dignidad.
My grandmother carries her old age with dignity.
La vejez no es una enfermedad, sino una etapa de la vida.
Old age is not a disease, but a stage of life.
Ahorran para tener una vejez tranquila.
They are saving to have a peaceful old age.
La vejez de la población es un desafío para el sistema de salud.
The aging of the population is a challenge for the healthcare system.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'vejez' as related to 'viejo' (old) with the abstract noun ending '-ez'
- The 'vej-' sound is similar to 'vintage', which refers to something old and valuable
- The word sounds a bit like 'pages' - think of the pages of a book yellowing with age
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, there is traditionally a high respect for the elderly (respeto a los mayores). The concept of 'vejez' often carries connotations of wisdom and experience rather than purely negative associations. Many Spanish-speaking countries have strong family structures where elderly parents are cared for by their children rather than in retirement homes.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Vejez' means 'old age' while 'vez' means 'time' or 'occasion'. They look and sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Esta vez lo haré mejor.
This time I'll do it better.
Notes: The pronunciation difference is clear: 'vejez' has the strong Spanish 'j' sound (like English 'h' but stronger), while 'vez' has a softer 'z' sound.
Mnemonic: 'Vejez' has the 'j' sound like in 'viejo' (old), while 'vez' is shorter and relates to counting occasions.
Explanation: 'Vejez' means 'old age' while 'vejación' means 'humiliation' or 'harassment'. They share the root 'vej-' but have different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
No toleraré ninguna vejación en mi empresa.
I will not tolerate any harassment in my company.
Notes: Despite sharing the first three letters, these words come from different Latin roots: 'vejez' from 'vetus' (old) and 'vejación' from 'vexatio' (harassment).
Mnemonic: 'Vejación' is longer and has the '-ación' ending that often indicates an action or process, while 'vejez' refers to a state of being.