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"Old" is an adjective which is often translated as "viejo", and "young" is an adjective which is often translated as "joven". Learn more about the difference between "old" and "young" below.
old(
old
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (not new)
a. viejo
My old printer still works really well.Mi vieja impresora sigue funcionando estupendamente.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I will be fifty years old tomorrow.Mañana cumpliré cincuenta años.
My son is four years old.Mi hijo tiene cuatro años.
3. (antique)
4. (worn)
a. viejo
Even though this old shirt is full of holes, it's still my favorite.Aunque esta camisa vieja tenga agujeros, todavía es mi favorita.
5. (former)
a. antiguo
I'm happily married but still think about my old boyfriend.Estoy felizmente casada pero todavía pienso en mi antiguo novio.
a. viejo
Joe and Peter are old friends who met in college.Joe y Peter son viejos amigos que se conocieron en la universidad.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He's such a good old dog.Es un buen perro.
We had a grand old time at the party last night.La pasamos requetebien en la fiesta anoche.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
8. (old people)
a. las personas mayores (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The party was a hit for both young and old.La fiesta fue un éxito tanto para los jóvenes como para las personas mayores.
b. los viejos (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Social planning should focus more on the needs of the old.La planificación social debería enfocarse más en las necesidades de los viejos.
c. los ancianos (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The old are respected in many cultures.En muchas culturas, los ancianos se respetan.
young(
yuhng
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (age)
a. joven
My mother and father married at a young age.Mi madre y padre se casaron cuando eran jóvenes.
2. (appearance)
a. verde
My assistant is still young at this, but he'll get better.Mi asistente todavía está muy verde, pero ya mejorará.
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. la gente joven (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The young are full of hope.La gente joven está llena de esperanza.
b. los jóvenes (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The elderly always complain about the young, and vice versa.Los viejos siempre se quejan de los jóvenes, y vice versa.
