Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vieja | /ˈbjexa/ | feminine |
| señora mayor | /seɲoɾa maʝoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The words used to describe an elderly woman in Spanish vary significantly based on whether you wish to be polite, formal or colloquial. While vieja is a common way to say 'old woman', it is also used colloquially in some regions as a term of endearment for a wife or partner, similar to how one might use 'old lady' in English.
Which one should you use?
There are different ways to refer to an elderly woman depending on the level of respect you wish to show. vieja is a blunt term that can be perceived as rude or insulting depending on the context and tone. In contrast, señora mayor is a much more respectful and polite way to refer to an elderly woman, translating more closely to 'elderly lady'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, vieja is used colloquially as a term of endearment for a wife or partner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form vieja is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbjexa/
Did you know?
- The word vieja is used in the name of the vieja fish, a species of pufferfish found in the Americas.
- In some Spanish cultures, calling one's mother mi vieja is a common expression of deep affection and closeness rather than a comment on her age.
- In certain Caribbean and Latin American contexts, vieja can be used as a playful or teasing nickname between female friends regardless of their actual age.
Examples in context
- Es la voz de una vieja.It's the voice of an old woman.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person by their voice using vieja.Tatoeba #1125892 by cueyayotl, translation #1125171 by Scott
- Dicen que soy una vieja.They say that I'm an old woman.This sentence shows how someone might react to being called vieja.Tatoeba #5068042 by Shishir, translation #68157 by CK
- Después de esto, nadie volvió a ver el fantasma de la vieja mujer de nuevo en ese callejón.After this, nobody ever saw the ghost of the old woman again in that alley.This sentence uses vieja to describe a ghost in a narrative context.Tatoeba #1266400 by marcelostockle, translation #924132 by Scott
- La mujer mayor que vive al final de la calle es muy amable.The old woman who lives at the end of the street is very kind.
- La anciana caminaba con elegancia y gracia.The old woman walked with elegance and grace.
- Abuela, eres la mejor vieja del mundo.Grandma, you're the best old lady in the world.
- La señora mayor que vive al lado siempre nos saluda con una sonrisa.The older lady next door always greets us with a smile.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are talking about a neighbor.
- SofíaLa vieja de al lado es muy amable.The old woman next door is very kind.
- MateoSí, siempre saluda a todos.Yes, she always greets everyone.
- SofíaElla es una vieja muy sabia.She is a very wise old woman.
- MateoTienes razón, Sofía.You are right, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old woman” translations and entries vieja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
