L’ancien (en. The old one)

lãsjɛ̃

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

A person who has lived for a long time, often in a respected context.

The former king left a lasting legacy.

L'ancien roi a laissé un héritage durable.

An object, building, or place that dates from an earlier time.

This ancient castle is an architectural marvel.

Cet ancien château est une merveille architecturale.

A person who has seniority in a group or organization.

He is the former member of the team and knows all its secrets.

Il est l'ancien membre de l'équipe et en connaît tous les secrets.

Comes from the Latin 'antianus', meaning 'ancient'.

the old regime

The political system before the French Revolution.

l'ancien régime

the elders

The people of a group with a long history.

les anciens

the old days

A bygone era, often idealized.

l'ancien temps

elders

People who lived before us.

anciens

antique

Object that belongs to a very ancient time.

antique

vintage

Relates to something old but of value.

vintage

A term of endearment for an old mate.

Hey old man, how's it going?

Hey l'ancien, comment ça va ?

Used to refer to something out of fashion.

This style is really old-fashioned!

Ce style, c'est vraiment l'ancien !