anciana

elderly woman

noun ahn-SYAH-nah Rare

Origin: From Latin antianus (former, old), from ante (before).

Also means

old woman

Usage Note

Anciana is the respectful term for an old woman; the masculine counterpart is anciano. It is more formal and dignified than vieja, which can be insulting depending on tone and region. As an adjective, anciana can modify a noun: una señora anciana. In legal and social-services contexts it is the standard register term.

Examples

"La anciana cruzó la calle despacio."

Natural Translation

The elderly woman crossed the street slowly.

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