What does ancien in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word ancien in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use ancien in French.

The word ancien in French means old, old, ancient, former, old person, old properties, experienced, ancient, the old, ex-serviceman, old boy, old franc, old French franc, old French, the Ancien Régime, the Old Testament, from the oldest to the youngest, from the youngest to the oldest, ancient Greek, Classical Greek, Pliny the Elder. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word ancien

old

adjectif (vieux)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Cette façon de faire est assez ancienne.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. The typewriter is now the relic of a bygone era.

old

adjectif (d'une autre époque)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je préfère les meubles anciens aux contemporains.
I prefer old furniture to modern.

ancient

adjectif (qui a trait aux Anciens, à l'antiquité)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Le grec ancien peut être étudié au Lycée.
You can study Ancient Greek at secondary school.

former

adjectif (qui fut en fonction mais ne l'est plus)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce ministre est un ancien avocat.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. I saw my old primary school teacher the other day - she hadn't changed a bit!

old person

(personne âgée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut prendre soin de ses anciens.
We have to take care of our old people.

old properties

nom masculin (immobilier : vieux)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Il vaut mieux investir dans le neuf que dans l'ancien.
New builds are a better investment than old properties.

experienced

adjectif (expérimenté)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Elle est plus ancienne que moi dans ce poste.
She's been doing this job longer than I have.

ancient

nom masculin (souvent au pluriel (personnage, écrivain de l'Antiquité) (often plural)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les Anciens avaient déjà bien dépeint les mœurs humaines.
The ancients had already thoroughly depicted human mores.

the old

nom masculin (meuble, bijou,... : vieux)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je préfère l'ancien au moderne.
I prefer old things to new ones.

ex-serviceman

nom masculin (ancien soldat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

old boy

(ex élève d'une école) (of a public school)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

old franc, old French franc

nom masculin (France, vieilli (franc avant 1959)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

old French

nom masculin (langue romane)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the Ancien Régime

nom propre masculin (monarchie française)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'Ancien Régime est la période de l'histoire de France allant de la Renaissance à la Révolution française.

the Old Testament

nom masculin (écrits de la Bible) (Bible)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

from the oldest to the youngest

locution adverbiale (par ordre chronologique)

from the youngest to the oldest

locution adverbiale (par ordre chronologique inverse)

ancient Greek, Classical Greek

nom masculin (langue morte)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le grec ancien peut s'étudier au lycée.

Pliny the Elder

nom propre masculin (écrivain romain)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pline l'Ancien est un écrivain et naturaliste du Ier siècle.

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