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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "old" in French?
Ancien
In French, "old" is Ancien.
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Pronunciation
Pronounce it ahn-syan, with a nasal first syllable and another nasal ending, both through the nose.
Grammar notes
Ancien is a adjective used the same way as its English equivalent.
Example sentence
La maison est très ancienne.
The house is very old.
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How to remember Ancien
Ancien looks like ancient, an easy visual match for something old.
Related words
- hard Difficile
- smooth lisse
- rough Rough
- loud bruyant
- thick épais
- thin Fin
- fresh frais
- rotten pourrie
- ripe mûr
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about Ancien
How do you pronounce Ancien?
Pronounce it ahn-syan, with a nasal first syllable and another nasal ending, both through the nose.
Is Ancien formal or casual?
Ancien is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is Ancien used in French?
Ancien is used the same way as the equivalent English adjective. For example: La maison est très ancienne. (The house is very old.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Old" in other languages
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