Adjective · A2 · Spanish glossary

Mayor: older

mayor

Pronunciation: mah-YOHR (stress the capital letters)

Mayor means “older” in English.

Quick answer

  • Meaning: older; bigger; major
  • How to say it: mah-YOHR
  • Forms: mayor, mayor, mayores, mayores
  • Level: Elementary (A2)

Practice Spanish free See examples

What “mayor” means and how to use it

Mayor means “older” (people) and “bigger” or “major.” It is also a polite way to say “elderly.”

Forms of “mayor”

DescribesSingularPlural
Masculinemayormayores
Femininemayormayores

Adjectives agree with the noun they describe.

Examples with audio

  • Mi hermana es mayor que yo.My sister is older than I am.
  • Mis abuelos son personas mayores.My grandparents are elderly.
  • El problema mayor es el tiempo.The biggest problem is time.

Usage tip

“Mayor de edad” means an adult (legally). “Mayor” is the polite word for an older person: una persona mayor.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “older” in Spanish?

“older” in Spanish is “mayor.” It is pronounced mah-YOHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.

How do you pronounce “mayor”?

Say mah-YOHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.

How does “mayor” change for feminine and plural?

The forms are “mayor,” “mayor,” “mayores,” and “mayores.”

Practice “mayor” for free

Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.

Practice Spanish for free with Leo

Related words

More: adjectives · Spanish glossary · Lessons