Meaning & use
añejo
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Aged or matured for a longer period, especially of tequila, rum, or cheese.
Grammar: Used mainly after the noun on product labels (tequila añejo) and before the noun in ordinary English (añejo tequila).
Patterns
- añejo tequila
- tequila añejo
This añejo tequila has spent at least a year in oak barrels.
The menu lists an añejo rum that is smooth enough to sip neat.
Añejo cheeses are firmer and sharper than the fresh ones.
nouncountable
A tequila or rum that has been aged in wood for an extended time.
Grammar: Countable when it means a bottle or a type of aged spirit: an añejo, two añejos.
Patterns
- order an añejo
- a glass of añejo
He ordered an añejo instead of the cheaper blanco.
The bar stocks three añejos from the same distillery.
Word forms
| plural | añejos |
|---|
Common combinations
- añejo tequila
- Añejo tequila is darker and sweeter than blanco.
- aged añejo
- The label says 'extra aged añejo'.
- sip an añejo
- You should sip an añejo slowly, not shoot it.
- añejo rum
- This añejo rum pairs well with dark chocolate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- aged
- The ordinary English word; use it in general writing, and keep añejo for Spanish-style product names.
- matured
- Slightly more formal and often used of cheese or wine rather than spirits.
Opposites
Commonly confused: añejo or anego?
añejo vs anego
Not an English word; the correct spelling keeps the ñ: añejo.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'añejo' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Añejo' is an adjective (or a noun) describing aged spirits, so it fits before 'tequila'. Options 2 and 4 treat it as a verb, which it is not, and option 3 misuses it as a word for 'salty' or 'old' in a general sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “añejo”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.