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"Old" is the general age adjective; "elder" is used only for people in family or community relationships.
Side-by-side comparison
Old, aged, having existed for a long time. Used for people, animals, objects, and concepts.
My grandmother is 87 years old and still does yoga every morning.
That's an old building. It was built in 1892.
My older sister lives in Canada now.
Older (in comparison to another family member). Only for people, not things. Also: a respected community senior (noun).
My elder brother always gave me advice when I was growing up.
In many cultures, the elders of the community are deeply respected.
She is the elder of the two sisters, born three years before her sibling.
Common mistake
- •"This is an elder building" is wrong: "elder" only works with people, in family comparisons or in the role of a respected community senior.
- •For things, animals, and ideas, always use "old" or "older."
Trick to remember it
"Elder" = people only, in a comparative relationship (older sibling, respected community senior). "Old" = everything else. If it is not a person, use "old" and you will never be wrong.
Quick rule
- •"Old" = general age adjective (people, things, animals).
- •"Elder" = people only, in family comparison or as a respected community senior.
Did you know?
ELDER has a fascinating religious and political history. In many Protestant churches, an "elder" is an official leadership role, it is not about age, but about spiritual function. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Elder" is the title all male missionaries carry from age 18. The video game series "The Elder Scrolls" takes its name from sacred scrolls kept by the wise elders of its fictional universe. The word comes from Old English "aldra" (related to "ald" = old), the same root as "old."
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
My _____ sister is three years older than me.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He is the _____ of the two brothers. He was born first.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
"Big" describes physical size or importance; "great" describes exceptional quality or magnitude.
Both can mean 'antiguo', but one is relative in age and the other implies thousands of years.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy