anciana
/anˈθjana/
The English phrase 'old lady' is translated into Spanish as anciana.
anciana is used to refer to an elderly woman. It is a formal, neutral and polite noun.
Meaning: informal: elderly woman (noun)
Which one should you use?
While anciana is a respectful term, it is more formal than the colloquial term vieja. To express a more endearing or affectionate sentiment toward an elderly woman, you can use the diminutive form ancianita.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, señora mayor is used to refer to an older lady in a respectful yet informal way, while viejita (the diminutive of vieja) is used affectionately. In Mexico, abuela is often used informally to refer to an older lady, particularly within a family context.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, anciana must agree with feminine articles and adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
/anˈθjana/
Did you know?
- The word anciana shares a root with the English word 'ancient', reflecting their shared origin in the Latin word antiquus.
- In some Caribbean dialects, calling an older woman doña followed by her first name is the standard way to show respect, often replacing the need for anciana.
- In certain contexts, using the word vieja to describe an old lady can actually be a way for a spouse to refer to their wife with a sense of long-term intimacy.
Examples in context
- Él le robó a una anciana.He robbed an old lady.This sentence shows the use of anciana in the context of a crime.Tatoeba #964476 by hayastan, translation #289497 by CK
- Aceptó ayudar a la anciana.He consented to help the old lady.This sentence illustrates a decision to help an anciana.Tatoeba #995736 by Shishir, translation #291386 by CK
- Dijeron que yo era una anciana.They said that I am an old lady.This sentence shows how someone might be described as an anciana.Tatoeba #5153413 by cueyayotl, translation #5068058 by languagesandcoffee
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are walking in a park.
- ElenaMira a esa anciana sentada en el banco.Look at that old lady sitting on the bench.
- MateoParece que está esperando a alguien.It looks like she is waiting for someone.
- ElenaLa anciana tiene un libro muy antiguo.The old lady has a very old book.
- MateoSeguro es una historia interesante.I'm sure it is an interesting story.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry anciana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
