Quick answer
Velho emphasizes age or wear. Antigo places something in the past and can mean former.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
Create your account to continue with this topic in Falando.
Free account. A1 lessons included.
What each word does
velho
old or aged
Use velho for age, wear, or something that has existed for a long time.
antigo
old, former, or from the past
Use antigo for something from an earlier period or a former role or relationship.
How to choose
- velho: Choose velho if the sentence points to age, wear, or something that has existed for a long time.
- antigo: Choose antigo if the sentence points to something from an earlier period or a former role or relationship.
Examples
O carro está velho.
The car is old and worn.
Este é meu antigo trabalho.
This is my former workplace.
Common trap
Antigo does not automatically mean worn out. An antigo amigo may be a longtime friend or, by context, a former friend.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with velho, then once with antigo. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
Create your account to continue with this topic in Falando.
Free account. A1 lessons included.