viejo
Lemma Details
Translation: old; aged; elderly; ancient
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'vetulus', a diminutive of 'vetus' meaning 'old'. The Latin root 'vet-' is also found in English words like 'veteran' (someone with long experience) and 'inveterate' (having a particular habit, interest, or characteristic for a long time). The evolution from Latin 'vetulus' to Spanish 'viejo' involved a series of phonetic changes typical of Romance language development.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mi abuelo es muy viejo pero todavía está fuerte.
My grandfather is very old but he's still strong.
Vivo en una casa vieja en el centro de la ciudad.
I live in an old house in the city center.
Es un viejo amigo de la familia.
He's an old family friend.
¡Hola, viejo! ¿Cómo estás?
Hey, old man! How are you?
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'veteran' (someone with long experience) to remember 'viejo' means 'old'.
- The 'vie' in 'viejo' sounds like 'vie' in 'vintage', which refers to something old and of high quality.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, the term 'viejo/vieja' can be used affectionately between family members or close friends, unlike in English where calling someone 'old' might be considered rude. In many Latin American countries, 'viejito/viejita' are terms of endearment even for people who aren't elderly. There's generally more respect for the elderly in Hispanic cultures, reflected in language usage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both mean 'old', 'viejo' typically refers to age or condition, while 'antiguo' emphasizes historical age or something from a former time period.
Notes: 'Viejo' can sometimes have negative connotations when referring to objects (worn out, deteriorated), while 'antiguo' often has positive or neutral connotations (historic, classic).
Mnemonic: 'Antiguo' sounds like 'antique', which refers to something historically old, not just aged.
Explanation: 'Viejo' directly means 'old', while 'mayor' means 'older' or 'elder' in comparative contexts, though it can also mean 'elderly'.
Notes: 'Mayor' is often used to indicate relative age between people, while 'viejo' is more absolute.
Mnemonic: Think of 'mayor' as 'major' in age - the one who has more years.