Spanish Word of the Day: viejo

Today a word you guys probably already know: viejo (or vieja for the female form). It’s one of those adjectives Spanish students learn early on and it’s easy to pronounce as well. However, it can also act as a noun in which role it can have many meanings.

First of all; saying viejo to someone in Spain isn’t regarded normal. It’s more an insult than it’s many parts of Latin-America. In Argentina for example, you can call you father viejo in which case it’s perfectly accepted. Next to that viejo can mean ‘darling’ or ‘love’. When saying to a good friend it can also mean ‘buddy’ or ‘mate’.

Some combinations with viejo that have a colloquial meaning:

Viejo verde – dirty old man

Tus viejos – your parents

Viejito Pascuero – Santa Claus (in Chile)

Mi viejo – my old man