vecchia

old woman

noun VEK-kyah Rare

Also means

old thing

Usage Note

Vecchia is the feminine noun form of vecchio (old) and can refer to an old woman, though it may sound dismissive or rude depending on context; anziana is the more respectful term. It also appears idiomatically: vecchia volpe (old fox, a crafty person). As an adjective it agrees with feminine nouns: la mia vecchia casa (my old house).

Examples

"La vecchia del quartiere ci salutava ogni mattina."

Natural Translation

The old woman from the neighbourhood greeted us every morning.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Restaurant Etiquette: Mistakes to Avoid

Skip the cappuccino after dinner, never put parmesan on fish, and learn the exact Italian phrases to order gracefully and avoid looking like a tourist.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read