What is the difference between viejo, antiguo, and mayor?

Viejo is the general word for old and works for both people and things. Antiguo stresses historical or ancient age and is mainly used for objects, buildings, and traditions. Mayor is used for people and is more respectful than viejo when describing someone's age.

Can viejo be used as a noun?

In many Latin American countries, mi viejo and mi vieja are widely used as affectionate slang terms for 'my dad' and 'my mom.' The tone is informal but usually loving.

Does the position of viejo always change the meaning?

Not always dramatically, but it often does. Before the noun, viejo tends to convey a figurative or emotional sense (long-standing, familiar). After the noun, it tends to describe literal, physical age. This pattern applies to several Spanish adjectives.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Old in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Viejo · adjective · bee-EH-hoh

Viejo (feminine: vieja) is the primary Spanish adjective for old. It can describe people, objects, or ideas. An important nuance: placing viejo before the noun often suggests a long-standing relationship or history (un viejo amigo = an old friend), while placing it after the noun emphasizes physical age (un amigo viejo = a friend who is old). When referring to elderly people, mayor is considered more polite. For historical or ancient things, antiguo is common.

bee-EH-hoh

Mis padres viven en una casa vieja cerca del río.

My parents live in an old house near the river.

Old in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for old, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
viejo	old	bee-EH-hoh	Default, widely understood
antiguo	old		old/ancient, used for things and places
mayor	old		older/elderly, more respectful when describing people

How Native Speakers Use Viejo

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Describing an object

Todavía uso mi viejo teléfono porque funciona bien.

I still use my old phone because it works fine.

Here viejo before the noun suggests the phone has been owned for a long time.

Referring to age respectfully

Mi abuela es una señora mayor muy activa.

My grandmother is a very active elderly woman.

Mayor is more respectful than vieja when describing someone's age.

Historical context

Visitamos una iglesia antigua en el centro de la ciudad.

We visited an ancient church in the city center.

Antiguo/antigua emphasizes historical age and is often used for buildings, traditions, and artifacts.

Position changes meaning

Encontré a un viejo amigo en el supermercado.

I ran into an old friend at the supermarket.

Viejo before amigo means a long-time friend, not necessarily an elderly one.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Viejo

Using viejo instead of mayor for people

Incorrect: No llames vieja a tu abuela.

Correct: Di que tu abuela es mayor.

Calling an elderly person viejo/vieja can sound blunt or disrespectful. Mayor is the preferred, polite term when referring to someone's advanced age.

Confusing adjective position

Incorrect: Es un amigo viejo — lo conozco desde la infancia.

Correct: Es un viejo amigo — lo conozco desde la infancia.

If you mean a long-time friend, place viejo before the noun. After the noun, amigo viejo implies the friend is physically old.

Lock in Old Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Viejo used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using viejo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mis padres viven en una casa vieja cerca del río. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Old in Spanish

What is the difference between viejo, antiguo, and mayor?: Viejo is the general word for old and works for both people and things. Antiguo stresses historical or ancient age and is mainly used for objects, buildings, and traditions. Mayor is used for people and is more respectful than viejo when describing someone's age.
Can viejo be used as a noun?: In many Latin American countries, mi viejo and mi vieja are widely used as affectionate slang terms for 'my dad' and 'my mom.' The tone is informal but usually loving.
Does the position of viejo always change the meaning?: Not always dramatically, but it often does. Before the noun, viejo tends to convey a figurative or emotional sense (long-standing, familiar). After the noun, it tends to describe literal, physical age. This pattern applies to several Spanish adjectives.