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Usage note
This word must be preceded by the definite article in the senses shown in 8b) and 8c).
old(
old
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective
1. (not new)
a. viejo
My old printer still works really well.Mi vieja impresora sigue funcionando estupendamente.
2. (related to age)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct 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)
a. antiguo
I still have my grandfather's old Bible.Todavía tengo la antigua biblia de mi abuelo.
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.
6. (long-standing)
a. viejo
Joe and Peter are old friends who met in college.Joe y Peter son viejos amigos que se conocieron en la universidad.
7. (for emphasis)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct 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).
noun
8. (old people)
a. las personas mayores
(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).
(F)
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) 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).
(M)
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) 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).
(M)
The old are respected in many cultures.En muchas culturas, los ancianos se respetan.
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
old
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
1. (general)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
the oldlos ancianos, las personas mayores
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).
adjective
2. (not young, not new; person)
a. anciano(a), viejo(a)
b. grande
3. (furniture, car, custom)
a. viejo(a)
an old manun anciano, un viejo
an old womanuna anciana, una vieja
old people, old folk(s)los ancianos, las personas mayores
to go over old groundvolver sobre un asunto muy trillado
to be an old hand at somethingtener larga experiencia en algo
4. (colloquial)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
to be old hatestar muy visto(a) estar más visto(a) que el tebeo
5. (fig)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
he's one of the old schooles de la vieja escuela
old agela vejez
old age pensionpensión de jubilación
old age pensionerpensionista mf, jubilado(a) m,f
6. (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
the Old Billla poli la pasma,, la cana
Old Gloryla bandera estadounidense
the Old Testamentel Antiguo Testamento
old wives' talecuento de viejas
7. (referring to person's age)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
how old are you?¿cuántos años tienes?
to be five years oldtener cinco años
at six years olda los seis años (de edad)
a two-year-old (child)un niño de dos años
to grow or get olderhacerse mayor
when you're oldercuando seas mayor
you're old enough to do that yourselfya eres mayorcito para hacerlo tú mismo
8. (former)
a. antiguo(a)
in the old daysantes, antiguamente
old boy/girlantiguo(a) alumno(a) m,f
old boy networkred de contactos entre antiguos compañeros de los colegios privados y universidades más selectos
an old flameun antiguo amor un ex amor
9. (long-standing)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
an old friend (of mine)un viejo amigo (mío)
old habits die hardes difícil abandonar las costumbres de toda la vida
10. (colloquial)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
(intensifier)
any old howde cualquier manera
any old thingcualquier cosa
11. (colloquial)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
(affectionate)
old Fredel bueno de Fred
old fellow or boymuchacho
my or the old manmi or el pariente
my or the old woman or ladymi or la parienta
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
old [əʊld]
adjective
older (comparative)oldest (superlative)
1 (not young) [+person] viejo; (more respectful) mayor; anciano; [+animal] viejo; [+civilization] antiguo
an old man un viejo; un anciano; an old woman una vieja; una anciana; he's a bit of an old woman es un poco Doña Remilgos; an old lady una señora mayor or anciana; a little old lady una viejecita; una ancianita
old people old folks (more respectful) los viejos; los ancianos; las personas mayores
to live to be old llegar a una edad avanzada; if I live to be that old si llego a esa edad
to be old before one's time hacerse mayor antes de tiempo
to be old beyond one's years ser maduro para la edad que se tiene
he's old for his age or for his years [+child] es muy maduro para su edad
that dress is too old for you ese vestido es para alguien mayor que tú; ese vestido no es apropiado para tu edad
to get or grow old envejecer
he's afraid of getting or growing old tiene miedo a envejecer; he's getting old se está haciendo viejo; to get older envejecer; as we get older ... según envejecemos ...
as we get older, our skin begins to sag
to look old parecer viejo; estar avejentado
she's not as old as she looks no es tan vieja como parece
as old as Methuselah más viejo que Matusalén
he/she has an old head on young shoulders es maduro/a para su edad
dirty fogey fool teach
2 (relating to ages)
how old are you? ¿cuántos años tienes?; ¿qué edad tienes?; Laura is six weeks/months/years old Laura tiene seis semanas/meses/años; she's three years old today hoy cumple tres años; he'll be six weeks old tomorrow cumplirá seis semanas mañana; a six-week-old baby un niño de seis semanas
he is 8 [years] old
a five-year-old (child) un niño de cinco años; the building is 300 years old el edificio tiene 300 años; the company is a century old la compañía existe desde hace un siglo
he's five months old he'll be five months old next week a five-month-old baby
at ten months old she was already walking cuando tenía diez meses ya andaba; she is two years older than you tiene dos años más que tú; you'll understand when you are older cuando seas mayor lo entenderás; when you are older it's harder to change jobs cuando eres mayor es más difícil cambiar de trabajo; their oldest child su hijo mayor; she is the oldest es la mayor; she is the oldest teacher in the school es la profesora de más edad del colegio
he isn't old enough to go to school yet he's old enough to know his own mind
to be old enough for sth/to do sth tener edad para algo/para hacer algo
she's old enough to go alone ya tiene edad para ir sola; he's old enough to know better (to have more sense) a su edad debería tener más sentido común; ya es mayorcito para saber lo que está bien y lo que está mal; (to behave better) a su edad debería portarse mejor; she's old enough to be your mother con la edad que tiene, podría ser tu madre
you're as old as you feel eres tan viejo como te sientes
generation
3 (not new) (antique) [+painting, book, building] antiguo; [+wine] añejo
the old part of Glasgow la parte vieja or antigua de Glasgow
to be as old as the hills
be as old as Adam
ser de tiempos de Maricastaña; ser más viejo que el mundo
jokes about cricket and the English weather are as old as the hills jokes about cricket and the English weather are as old as the hills begging is it is as old as the hills
chip
[+clothes, furniture] (tatty) viejo; (worn) usado; gastado
it's too old to be any use es demasiado viejo para servir de algo
4 (long-standing) viejo
he's an old friend of mine es un viejo amigo mío; that's an old problem eso no es nada nuevo; eso ya viene de atrás; it's a very old tradition/custom es una vieja tradición/costumbre; es una tradición/costumbre antigua; the old ways survived in some country areas las viejas costumbres perduraron en algunas partes del campo; an old family una familia de abolengo
ethnic tensions are an old problem here
score
5 (former) antiguo
my old flat was very small mi antiguo piso era muy pequeño
the old country la madre patria; la patria
in the old days antaño; en los viejos tiempos
the good old days los viejos tiempos
it's not as good as our old one no es tan bueno como el anterior
my old school mi antiguo or viejo colegio
of the old school de la vieja escuela
He is one of the old school who still believes in honour in public life He was a journalist of the old school a privileged Englishman of the old school
for old times' sake por los viejos tiempos
Mark was heartbroken when Jane returned to her old boyfriend I'll make up the bed in your old room we went back to have another look at our old house
6 (expressing affection)
here's old Peter coming ahí viene el bueno de Peter; good old Mike! ¡este Mike!; come on, old man! (old-fashioned) ¡venga hombre!
she's a funny old thing es rarita
my or the old lady or woman (mother) mi or la vieja (very_informal); (wife) la parienta (informal)
my or the old man (father) mi or el viejo (very_informal); (husband) mi marido
His old lady stabbed his dad with a penknife My old lady's pregnant again now, take old Fred here ...
7 (as intensifier)
what a load of old rubbish! ¡qué cantidad de chorradas! (informal)
any old
any old thing will do cualquier cosa sirve; it's not just any old painting, it's a Rembrandt no es un cuadro cualquiera, es un Rembrandt; just put it any old where ponlo en cualquier parte; he leaves his things any old how deja sus cosas de cualquier manera; I parked the car any old how aparqué el coche de cualquier manera
we had a high old time hacía tiempo que no nos divertíamos tanto
it's the same old story es la misma historia de siempre
it's the [old], old story
of course it will be the old, old story - audition, and refusal this is the old, old story of the burdens of debt driving a man to do something unthinkable the old old story; paint the employers villains, paint the workers gullible nice-guy don't just do it any old how
noun
1
the old los viejos (m); los ancianos (m); their music appeals to old and young alike su música gusta tanto a jóvenes como a viejos; the circus appeals to old and young alike el circo gusta igualmente a grandes y pequeños
2
of old: to know sb of old conocer a algn desde hace tiempo
knights/legends of old los caballeros/las leyendas de antaño (literary); in days of old antaño (literary); en los tiempos antiguos
modifier
old age (n) vejez (f)
in one's old age en la vejez; perhaps I'm going soft in my old age quizá me estoy ablandando al hacerme viejo or en la vejez
he was expected to care for his parents in their old age he had been rewarded in his old age
he is unable to travel much because of old age no puede viajar mucho debido a su edad
ripe
old age pension (n) subsidio (m) de la tercera edad; pensión (f)
old age pensioner (n) pensionista (m); jubiladoajubilada (m) (f);a jubilada
the Old Bailey (n) (Britain) el tribunal de lo penal de más alto rango de Inglaterra
the Old Bill (n) (Britain) la poli (informal); la pasma (very_informal); (Esp)
old boy (n) (former pupil) ex-alumno (m); antiguo alumno (m); (old chap) amigo (m) mío
the old-boy network especially el amiguismo
the old brigade (n) los veteranos
old campaigner (n) veterano (m)
old chestnut (n) (joke) broma (f) muy pasada; (story) historia (f) muy pasada
Old Dominion (n) (US) el estado de Virginia
Old English (n) inglés (m) antiguo
note See culture box in entry Anglo-Saxon.
Old English sheepdog (n) perro (m) pastor ovejero inglés
old flame (n) antiguo amor (m)
old folks' home (n) residencia (f) de ancianos
old girl (n) (former pupil) ex-alumna (f); antigua alumna (f); (elderly woman) señora (f); abuelita (informal) (f)
Old Glory (n) (US) bandera de los Estados Unidos
old gold (n) oro (m) viejo
the old guard (n) la vieja guardia
old hand (n) veteranoaveterana (m) (f);a veterana
he's an old hand at photography es un veterano de la fotografía
Old High German
old lag (n) (old prisoner) (presoapresa (m) (f)) veteranoaveterana (m) (f);a presa a veterana (ex-prisoner) ex-presidiarioaex-presidiaria (m) (f);a ex-presidiaria
Old Low German
old maid (n) solterona (f)
she'll end up an old maid se quedará para vestir santos
Old Man River (n) (US) el río Mississippi
old master (n) (work) obra (f) maestra de la pintura clásica; (painter) gran maestro (m) de la pintura clásica
old money (n) dinero (m) de familia
Old Nick (n) Pedro Botero (informal) (humorous)
old people's home (n) residencia (f) de ancianos
old salt (n) (Náut) viejo lobo (m) de mar
old school tie (n) (Britain) corbata con los colores representativos de la escuela a la que alguien ha asistido
the old school tie el amiguismo
old soldier (n) veterano (m); excombatiente (m)
the Old South (n) (US) el viejo sur
old stager (n) veteranoaveterana (m) (f);a veterana
Old Testament (n) Antiguo Testamento (m)
old wives' tale (n) cuento (m) de viejas; patraña (f)
the Old World (n) el Viejo Mundo; el Viejo Continente
old-world
Position of "viejo" and "antiguo"
Viejo and antiguo can go either before or after the noun, depending on their meaning.
Viejo
Put viejo after the noun when you are referring to age:
... boxes full of old clothes ... ... cajas llenas de ropa vieja ...
Old cars are the ones that pollute the environment most Son los coches viejos los que más contaminan el medio ambiente
Put viejo before the noun when you mean old in the sense of "long-standing" or "well-established":
They got in touch with an old friend Se pusieron en contacto con un viejo amigo
Many of the old customs have changed with the passing of time Muchas de las viejas costumbres han cambiado con el paso del tiempo
Antiguo
Generally put antiguo after the noun to translate ancient or old in the sense of "ancient":
... one of Canada's most beautiful old houses ... ... una de las más bellas casas antiguas de Canadá ...
... the old part of the town ... ... el barrio antiguo de la ciudad ...
Put antiguo before the noun to translate former or old in the sense of "former":
My old colleagues are no longer my friends Mis antiguos compañeros ya no son mis amigos
... the former British colonies ... ... las antiguas colonias británicas ...
old
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Examples
'old' in our machine translators
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