Today I was out on a bicycle ride with my friend that will be cycling with me in Italy. I thought I would poke a little fun using my limited Italian and called him "Il primo vecchio". What I wanted to say was "The old one" but I think what I really said was the number one old person which I guess sort of works. What would the proper way of saying "The old one" (vecchio) or "The fast one" (veloce)?


And yes I know you really shouldn't call anyone vecchio unless you are poking fun at a close friend.

When when my friend asked what "Il primo vecchio" meant, I said with a smirk "the fast one".

He is actually faster than me and at least ten years older. He has been cycling a lot longer than I have so couldn't resist getting even.

I would just say "il vecchio".

That's how you would say "the old one" just as you would say, "la bionda" if you were talking about "the blonde one..."

I'm being kind of an awkward explainer here.

It doesn't sound right to me, though, to say, "il veloce..." maybe, "quello veloce"

boh.... you'll get an Italian in here soon enough telling you what to really say

yeah i think il vecchio would be the best. il primo vecchio sounds almost like a compliment to me.

OK so what about "Il uomo vecchio"?

I just hope he doesn't learn what it really means. Or I may not be in good enough health to post here anymore.

Other possibilities:
"veterano" = old timer,
"uomo anziano" = old (elderly) man or "uno anziano"

quote:

anziano

Is it anziano that you never really want to call an older person? Or is it vecchio that you should not use out of respect? Or is there a third word that I am thinking of, that you should really not use?

People say anziano or a all the time. Thing is to figure at what age it is not insulting. Don't try it on me or I'll give you a fist sandwich!
Sono una donna matura.
If you want to say sort of geezer, I guess il vecchio works.