viejo

Ladino

Alternative forms

• vyejo

Etymology

From Old Spanish , from Vulgar Latin veclus, from Latin vetulus, diminutive of vetus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvjeʒo/

Adjective

viejo (Latin spelling)

1. old
   • 2019, Şeli GAON, “Viyaje A Andalusia - 2”, in Şalom‎:

     La maale de los djudyos se topa en el sentro de la sivdad vyeja, toda la kaleja golyendo al miskle de flores, las plasas kon las pisinas, los arvoles de portokales kon los kortijos finos avyertos para ke los turistos vijiten.

     The Jewish district is located in the center of the old city, the whole street smelling of a mixture of flowers, the plazas with the swimming pools, the orange trees with the fine open patios for the tourists to visit.

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish vieio, vyeio from Vulgar Latin veclus, from Latin vetulus, diminutive of vetus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbjexo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -exo
• Syllabification: vie‧jo

Adjective

viejo (feminine vieja, masculine plural viejos, feminine plural viejas, superlative viejísimo)

1. old (having existed for a long time)

   Synonyms: antiguo, añejo

   Antonym: nuevo

   • 2012, Jorge Accame, Forastero, SUDAMERICANA, →ISBN:

     Se levanta del sillón, busca en un estante un disco viejo, de pasta, y lo pone en el combinado. —Un poco de música —dice.

     He gets out of the chair, looks on the shelf for an old record, made of plastic, and he puts it in the radiogram. "A little music," he says.

2. old (having lived for many years)

   Synonyms: anciano, mayor

   Antonym: joven

   Mi abuelo es viejo. ― My grandfather is old.

   • 2014, Victor Muñoz, La noche del 9 de febrero, Punto de Lectura, →ISBN:

     También hay un profesor viejo que se ha vuelto sabio a raíz de vivir mucho tiempo y de escuchar y contar historias.

     There's also an old professor who has grown wise as a result of living a long time and listening to and telling stories.

3. (before the noun) old (former, previous)

   Synonyms: anterior, antiguo

   • 2016, Leo Babauta, El gran libro de los hábitos zen, Mestas Ediciones, →ISBN:

     Si permaneces en tu antiguo entorno, tus viejos hábitos serán mucho más difíciles de cambiar.

     If you remain in your old surroundings, your old habits will be much more difficult to change.

4. stale (no longer novel or interesting)

Usage notes

• The comparative form of viejo is mayor.

Derived terms

(diminutive viejito)

Related terms

Noun

viejo m (plural viejos, feminine vieja, feminine plural viejas)

1. an old person

   Synonyms: anciano, (euphemism) adulto mayor

2. (slang) old man (one's father)
   • 2000, Eduardo Bakchellian, El error de ser argentino, Editorial Galerna, →ISBN, page 75:

     Mi viejo es un tipo que entra en cualquier sitio y modifica la atmósfera.

     My old man is a guy who can go into any place and change the atmosphere.

3. (Mexico) a certain guy or man, especially adult or almost

   Me gusta el viejo de bigote.

   I like the guy with moustache.

   Los tacos más ricos son los del viejo de camisa negra.

   The most delicious tacos are those sold by the guy with black shirt.

   No quiero viejos groseros en mi fiesta.

   I do not want impolite, discourteous men in my party.

4. (Mexico) sweetheart, honey (substitute for a male name)

   Ya regresé, viejo.

   I'm back, dear.

5. (Mexico) a male sexual companion or partner, occasional or stable; husband

Derived terms

Further reading

• “viejo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014