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
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
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
[+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
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
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
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
Viejo and antiguo can go either before or after the noun, depending on their meaning.
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
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 …
These examples may contain rude words based on your search.
These examples may contain colloquial words based on your search.
Suggestions
All the poor old dean can understand is the physical act.
Hasta el pobre viejo decano puede entender que es el acto físico.
You can do nothing for me, my poor old friend.
No puedes hacer nada por mí, mi pobre y viejo amigo.
Where the old one goes, the sons and daughters follow.
Cuando el antiguo se va, los hijos e hijas le siguen.
Within walking distance to the old town and the hiking trails.
A poca distancia del casco antiguo y de las rutas de senderismo.
Tell him to take some Rennies instead of harassing old men.
Dile que tome algunos Rennies en lugar de acosar a los ancianos.
You should learn to trust your intuition, me old mucker.
Usted debería aprender a creer en su intuición, mi viejo amigo.
Maybe he could give you something for your weird old face.
Tal vez lo que pudo darle algo para su viejo rostro extraño.
Nothing, yet my wife thinks it’s the old toaster.
Nada, aún, mi esposa cree que es una tostadora antigua.
An old legend says that it is the devil’s birthplace.
Es el lugar donde nació el diablo, según una vieja leyenda.
Because your «holier than thou» bit is getting old.
Porque tu «más santa que tú» se está poniendo viejo.
I’ll buy that old clock, however expensive it is.
Compraré ese viejo reloj, a pesar de lo caro que es.
But there’s something wrong up here in the old gearbox.
Pero hay algo que anda mal en esta vieja caja de cambios.
That sagging old rust bucket is designed like a garbage scow.
Ese viejo cubo oxidado y abollado que parece un bidón de basura.
Only friends, and mommy says you’re an old friend.
Sólo de amigos, y mamá dice que eres un viejo amigo.
The old lady goes into the car, otherwise she dies.
La vieja va en el auto o de lo contrario se muere.
Someone is killing people close to agents from your old detail.
Alguien está matando gente cercana a los agentes de tu antigua agencia.
I take his flabby old hand and get him to dance.
Le agarro la mano vieja y flácida y lo saco a bailar.
I can see having an old girlfriend’s lock of hair…
Puedo ver que tiene un mechón de pelo de una antigua novia…
It’s an old concrete plant in the middle of nowhere.
Es una vieja planta de concreto en el medio de la nada.
A rich lover has gifted his new girlfriend an old key.
El amante rico le regalo a su nueva novia una llave vieja.
Suggestions that contain old
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Word index: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
Expression index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Phrase index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
¿De qué año es el documento?
Nazi Germany, old Earth date 1944.
Alemania Nazi, año 1944 de la Tierra.
According to our calculations, the map was 560 years old in 1995.
De acuerdo a nuestros cálculos, el mapa tenia 560 años en el año 1995.
The same old stuff. Ouch!
EL MISMO VIEJO COSAS¡OUCH!
Using old fuel may damage heater.
UTILIZANDO COMBUSTIBLE VIEJO PUEDE DAÑAR SU CALENTADORA.
Are you old enough to go on your own?
¿ERES VIEJO suficiente para ir por su cuenta?
That’s Sergio Vinciguerra’s old fishing boat.
ESO ES VIEJO BARCO DE PESCA DE SERGIO VINCIGUERRA.
You’re gettin’ old, Crunch.
ESTÁS HACIÉNDOTE VIEJO, CRUNCH.
Thank You for purchasing the Old Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Maker!
GRACIAS por comprar El OLD FASHIONED MOVIE TIME POPCORN MAKER!
Pop corn in The Old Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Maker!
Reviente el maíz en el OLD FASHIONED MOVIE TIME POPCORN MAKER!
The Old Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Maker!
is easy to use.
El OLD FASHIONED MOVIE TIME POPCORN MAKER
es fácil de usar.
Your Old Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Maker!
is already fully assembled.
Su OLD FASHIONED MOVIE TIME POPCORN MAKER
ya esta completamente asemblado.
Using old fuel can damage your heater.
UTILIZANDO COMBUSTIBLE VIEJO PUEDE DAÑAR SU CALENTADORA.
OTTO COLOMINA PARDO,
MIGUEL ÁNGEL CAZORLA QUEVEDO and DIEGO old HERNANDO.
OTTO COLOMINA PARDO,
MIGUEL ANGEL CAZORLA QUEVEDO y DIEGO VIEJO HERNANDO.
Proper disposal of your old appliance.
FORMA ADECUADA DE DESCARTAR SU ANTIGUO ELECTRODOMÉSTICO.
Those are for potential buyers, you withered old mooch.
Esto es solo para potenciales clientes, YOU WITHERED OLD MOOCH.
Proper disposal of your old refrigerator.
FORMA ADECUADA DE DESCARTAR SU ANTIGUO REFRIGERADOR.
Before you throw away your old refrigerator or freezer.
ANTES DE DESECHAR SU REFRIGERADOR O CONGELADOR VIEJO.
Proper disposal of your old refrigerator.
CÓMO DESHACERSE ADECUADAMENTE DE SU APARATO REFRIGERADOR VIEJO.
Old flash retro remake of Galaga!
¡Viejo remake retro de destello de Galaga!
There were many sick and malnourished children and old people with us.
Con nosotros venían muchos viejitos y niños enfermos y desnutridos.
He looks old… kind of magical.
Parecer viejo… como mágico.
These are for old, creaky people who are way older than me.
Estos son para viejitos que son mucho más viejos que yo.
Is he old or young? Older?
He was certainly old but we always have to learn from old people.
Es cierto que estaba muy viejito pero de Los viejos siempre tenemos que aprender.
You’re saying two old beat them up?
¿Dices que dos viejitos les dieron una paliza?
These old maids tend to get nervous.
Esas viejitas tienden a ponerse nerviosas.
It’s ever so old, I have had it a month.
And imagine him without that muscle-y little old guy in his arms.
Imagínatelo sin el viejito musculoso en sus brazos.
Results: 90247,
Time: 0.0797
Martha melted old records into bowls.
state battles over Old Town property.
BOLD isn’t just any old platform.
Have you seen this old story?
I’ve used good old PROCESS again.
Old toxicity could creep back in.
Yummy old fashioned cinnamon chewing gum!
Install missing and update old drivers.
But honestly, who reads old chats?
Even better, it’s new Old Stock!
English
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Spanish
Spanish
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English
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After all, we all want to live to old age. europarl.europa.eu europarl.europa.eu |
Al fin y al cabo, todos queremos vivir hasta la vejez. europarl.europa.eu europarl.europa.eu |
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All the advice I […] europarl.europa.eu europarl.europa.eu |
Todo el asesoramiento que recibo apunta a […] europarl.europa.eu europarl.europa.eu |
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Before you buy a new television, think carefully about what you […] ee-tv.org ee-tv.org |
Antes de comprar un televisor nuevo, considere seriamente lo que […] ee-tv.org ee-tv.org |
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But if someone […] dietary habits, changing those habits will not have as quick or […] dramatic an effect as will exercise. aarpsegundajuventud.org aarpsegundajuventud.org |
Pero si alguien […] alimenticios, el cambiar esos h�bitos no tendr� un efecto tan r�pido […] o impresionante como lo tendr� el ejercicio». aarpsegundajuventud.org aarpsegundajuventud.org |
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As regards nuclear energy, even if […] we were to launch a very ambitious policy of […] new power plants, the global nuclear industry […] would still not be able to satisfy demand. eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu |
En cuanto a la energ�a nuclear, aun […] suponiendo que se adopte una pol�tica muy […] de centrales, la industria nuclear mundial […] no estar�a en condiciones de responder a la demanda. eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu |
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(ii) For those candidates who have studied for one or many years in the superior educational establishments but still not be graduated, this limitation of their ages from 25, shall be increasing according to the number […] of years they have attended so far in those establishments of the superior education […] daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org |
(ii) Los candidatos que hayan estudiado un a�o o m�s en establecimientos de educaci�n superior pero que todav�a no se hayan graduado deber�n tener 25 a�os como m�nimo; la edad m�xima se incrementar� de acuerdo con el n�mero de a�os que […] hayan asistido hasta el momento a tales establecimientos de educaci�n superior, hasta […] daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org |
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Being familiar with the setting the child came […] from gives the teacher information that guides discussions about similarities and differences […] healthychildcarenc.org healthychildcarenc.org |
Estar familiarizado con el ambiente del que proviene el ni�o le da a la maestra la […] informaci�n que orienta las conversaciones sobre similitudes y diferencias entre el nuevo […] healthychildcarenc.org healthychildcarenc.org |
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The worst is that those who talk of speeding up such changes are characters whose same old murderous ideas are quite familiar to us. cubasocialista.cu cubasocialista.cu |
Lo peor es que los que hablan de acelerar tales tr�nsitos pol�ticos son personajes cuyas ideas asesinas de siempre conocemos bien. cubasocialista.cu cubasocialista.cu |
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Bush rescues the speculators at the same time he reduces the health benefits of the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and when the US is facing the collapse of its basic […] infrastructure (dams, dikes and bridges), which has led to the […] Minneapolis catastrophe. crfiweb.org crfiweb.org |
Bush rescata a los especuladores al mismo tiempo que reduce las prestaciones m�dicas para los soldados que vuelven de Irak y Afganist�n y cuando Estados Unidos asiste a un derrumbe de su infraestructura b�sica […] (represas, diques y puentes) que ha llevado a la […] la cat�strofe de Minneapolis. crfiweb.org crfiweb.org |
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In the porch of a small farm, an old lady knits and tells stories. brazilianfilmfestival.com brazilianfilmfestival.com |
En La galer�a de una hacienda, una se�ora cuenta y teje hisotiras. brazilianfilmfestival.com brazilianfilmfestival.com |
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Almost immediately, the old house was disassembled […] and a new, sturdier home went up in its place. children.org children.org |
Casi de inmediato, la casa vieja fue desarmada, y una […] children.org children.org |
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By focusing on blending […] will focus on its core competencies and reduce the […] high costs that were caused by the unprofitable refining activities. eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu |
Al limitar sus actividades a la mezcla de […] se centrar� en sus competencias esenciales […] y podr� reducir los elevados costes resultantes de unas actividades de refinado poco rentables. eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu |
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Ibuprofen is not approved for use in children less than 6 months old. azkidsheart.com azkidsheart.com |
El ibuprofeno no est� aprobado para su uso con ni�os menores de 6 meses. azkidsheart.com azkidsheart.com |
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It requires less […] unjiu.org unjiu.org |
Exige menos […] unjiu.org unjiu.org |
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There is also a Renaissance cloister, […] fortress. spain.info spain.info |
Tambi�n posee un claustro de estilo […] la fortaleza. spain.info spain.info |
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In this highly competitive environment simply […] only slightly to follow fashion is […] not the road to success, often resulting in being competitive solely on price. stahl.com stahl.com |
En este ambiente continuar […] ligeramente para seguir la moda no es […] el camino hacia el �xito, a menudo tiene como consecuencia ser s�lo competitivo en el precio. stahl.com stahl.com |
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Suddenly on […] a few rags and trembling with cold. missionidonbosco.org missionidonbosco.org |
De repente, en la […] con pocos trapos y temblando de fr�o. missionidonbosco.org missionidonbosco.org |
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Ada explains, «The mattress was very old and it had some springs poking out that hurt […] us, and I always had to put rags on it before going to bed. children.org children.org |
Ada explica, […] ten�a que colocar trapos encima de �l antes de dormir. children.org children.org |
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The author, who was 61 years old and had 11 years of service, was one of those […] employees. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org |
El autor, de 61 a�os de edad y 11 de servicio, era uno de esos funcionarios. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org |
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And it was here, in 1833, that the first American settlement was […] colorado.com colorado.com |
Y fue aqu�, en 1833, que se levant� el primer poblado […] colorado.com colorado.com |
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Do not give doxepin to anyone younger […] of a doctor. mdinfo.com mdinfo.com |
No le d� esta medicina a nadie menor […] del m�dico. mdinfo.com mdinfo.com |
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While they might seem like plain old folders, libraries are far more powerful. windows.microsoft.com windows.microsoft.com |
Aunque pueden parecer carpetas comunes, las bibliotecas son m�s poderosas que las carpetas. windows.microsoft.com windows.microsoft.com |
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The fact […] to meet her father? firethistime.net firethistime.net |
�Qu� a una ni�a de seis a�os no […] se le permita conocer a su padre? firethistime.net firethistime.net |
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However this revolutionary artist constantly drew inspiration from […] robert-schuman.eu robert-schuman.eu |
Sin embargo, este artista revolucionario se inspiraba constantemente del trabajo de […] robert-schuman.eu robert-schuman.eu |
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Two and three year olds require less food each day than children four to eight years old. healthychildcarenc.org healthychildcarenc.org |
Los ni�os de dos y […] healthychildcarenc.org healthychildcarenc.org |
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With a midfield that combines the toughness of Javier Mascherano with the play-making of Juan Rom�n Riquelme and the attacks of 18-year—old Lionel Messi, the Argentineans can hang in with anybody. aarpsegundajuventud.org aarpsegundajuventud.org |
Con un mediocampo que combina la fuerza de Javier Mascherano, con la creatividad de Juan Rom�n Riquelme y el ataque de Lionel Messi, de 18 a�os de edad, los argentinos pueden v�rselas con cualquiera. aarpsegundajuventud.org aarpsegundajuventud.org |
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The Mayflower Gold Mill and the Old 100 Mine tours showcase one of the best preserved mills in the United States and illustrate the process of turning ore into gold. colorado.com colorado.com |
Los recorridos de la Fundici�n de Oro Mayflower y la Old 100 Mine muestran una de las fundiciones mejor conservadas en Estados Unidos e ilustran el proceso de convertir los minerales en oro. colorado.com colorado.com |
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The conviction in the «essence» distinguishes the Old Dianic Tradition from other Pagan paths, with the focus in the Immortal Goddess and in the 3 Goddes faces : Maiden, Mother and Crone. nemorensis.com.br nemorensis.com.br |
La convicci�n en la «esencia» distingue la Tradici�n Old Dianic de otros caminos Paganos, con su enfoque en la Diosa Inmortal y en los aspectos de sus 3 faces la Doncella, la Madre y la Anciana. nemorensis.com.br nemorensis.com.br |
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Hi, I am […] August I lived in the Netherlands. fimcap.org fimcap.org |
Hola, soy […] Agosto viv�a en Holanda. fimcap.org fimcap.org |
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One possibility would be for the country to be […] apparatus. fride.org fride.org |
Primero, el pa�s podr�a mantenerse unido bajo el mando de […] fride.org fride.org |
You may have noticed that there are a number of ways to say ‘old’ in Spanish.
Sometimes it depends on context and there are also set ways to refer to how old someone is etc.
¿Cuántos años tiene (usted)? How old are you? (Lit. How many years do you have?)
Tengo veinte uno años. I’m 21 years old.
¿Qué edad tiene él? How old is he?
Él tiene treinta y un año. He is thirty one years old.
You can use the same constructions in different tenses too.
¿Cuántos años tenía usted? How old were you?
(Yo) tenía veinte uno años. I was twenty one (years old).
¿Qué edad tenía él? How old was he?
There are also a couple of variations, for example using the verb contar.
Ella contaba solo con 17 años. She was just 17 years old.
Ella contaba apenas con 17 años. She was barely 17 years old.
Now, how about when you want to describe someone or something as old?
Viejo is good for describing ‘old’ things. Just remember to make it agree with the noun or things that it’s modifying.
Tengo una bolsa vieja. I have an old bag.
Tengo los zapatos viejos. I have old shoes.
And if it’s something really old you could use antiguo.
El antiguo testaments. The Old Testament.
Viejo/vieja can refer to people if you mean ‘former’ and in that case it goes before the noun.
That’s my old Spanish teacher.
Esa es mi vieja maestra de español.
Or in the set phrase ‘viejo y querido’ ie. good old so and so.
El viejo y querido Pablo. Good old Paul.
But generally if you want to refer to a person as being old you should use mayor or anciano.
Había una mujer mayor sentado en el coche.
There was an elderly lady sitting in the car.
El anciano andaba en last calle.
The old man was walking in the street.
Remember though that antiguo can mean ‘old’ as in ‘former’, ‘old fashioned’, ‘vintage’, or even ‘ancient’ or ‘antique’.
Coche antiguo: a vintage car
Coche viejo: an old car
Los antiguos grecos. The ancient Greeks.
Antique furniture. Muebles antiguos.
Un antiguo enamorado. An old flame.
La antigua capital de Nueva Zelanda fue Wellington. The old (former) capital of New Zealand was Wellington.
Mi antiguo colegio. My old school.
No me gusta este vestido Mamá, es tan antiguo I don’t like this dress Mum, it’s so old fashioned!
Una civilización antigua. An ancient civilization.
Now, how about old people?
Although you could use ‘viejo’ it can sound brusque or even rude. You could soften it by using the more informal term ‘viejito’, ‘viejita’ etc or to avoid giving any offence you could use ‘mayor’ which can mean ‘old’, ‘adult’, ‘grown-up’ etc.
Mis padres ya son mayores. My parents are old.
Mis hijos ya son mayores. My children are already grown ups.
Había un hombre mayor sentado en el bus. There was an elderly man sitting on the bus.
Solo para mayores. Adults only.
NB: Just like ‘my old man’ or ‘my old lady’ can be used as slang for husband or wife, in some areas ‘viejo’ or ‘vieja’ can be used the same way. These terms would likely not be considered that respectful in either language.
Bear in mind too that ‘mayor’ can also be translated as ‘older’, ‘oldest’, ‘eldest’ or even ‘greater’.
Mi hijo mayor. My oldest/eldest son.
Paul es mayor que Maria. Paul is older than Maria.
La población de Nicaragua es mayor de Nueva Zelanda. The population of Nicaragua is greater than New Zealand.
And then you have anciano, fairly formal but along with ‘mayor’ a polite way to refer to ‘old’ or ‘elderly’ person.
Un anciano. An old man.
Una anciano. An old woman.
Los ancianos. The elderly. The old folks.
