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vieillard

old man

noun vyeh-YAHR Less Common
People & Society Community

Usage Note

Vieillard is a fairly neutral, slightly formal word for an elderly man, though it can carry a slightly pitying tone in context. The collective les vieillards is used in social-policy writing. Vieux is more casual; personne âgée is the respectful bureaucratic term. There is no common feminine form — vieille femme or vieille dame is used instead.

Examples

"Le vieillard marchait lentement sur le trottoir."

Natural Translation

The old man walked slowly on the pavement.

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