mayor

greater

adjective mah-YOHR Common

Origin: From Latin maior (greater).

Also means

older

Usage Note

Mayor is the comparative of grande for size/importance AND of viejo for age: el mayor de los hermanos (the oldest of the siblings). It does not add más before it — más mayor is considered redundant, though heard in speech. Mayor de edad means 'of legal age' (adult). As a noun, los mayores means 'adults' or 'elders'. Note mayor also means 'major' in military rank or music (en do mayor — in C major).

Examples

"Ella es la hermana mayor."

Natural Translation

She is the older sister.

Literal Translation

She is the sister older

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