Both words describe age, and in some sentences you can use either. But there are a few places where only one of them works.
- Older is the everyday word. It works for people, animals and things, and it can be followed by than.
- Elder is a more formal word for people. It cannot be followed by than.
Older: the everyday word
Older works almost everywhere. It can describe a person, a pet, a tree, a house or a toy.
My brother is older than me.
The older cat sat in the sun.
That is the oldest tree in the park.
This school is older than my grandma.
Forms: old, older, oldest.
Elder: for people, with respect
Elder is used for people, often in a family. It sounds a little more formal. It often goes before a noun, as in my elder sister, and sometimes with respect, as in the village elders.
My elder sister is a pilot.
She is the elder of the two twins.
The eldest child gets the biggest room.
Forms: elder, eldest (for people).
Easy way to tell them apart
Ask: can I add than?
- If yes, use older.
- If you are not sure, use older. It is nearly always safe.
✅ My sister is older than me.
❌ My sister is elder than me.
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Older works with than. Elder works with family.
If you can picture the word before sister or brother, it may be elder. If you can picture than, it must be older.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Elder cannot take than.
❌ Tom is elder than Anna.
✅ Tom is older than Anna.
Elder is only for people.
❌ This is the elder house on our street.
✅ This is the older house on our street.
Elder is not the same as elderly.
❌ My elderly sister is eight years old.
✅ My elder sister is eight years old.
Good to know
- You can say the elder of the two or the older of the two. Both are fine when you compare two people.
- For three or more, use eldest or oldest: the eldest of three children.
- Elderly is a different word, used for older people. It is not a replacement for elder.
💬 In a conversation
Mia: My elder brother is older than me.
Sam: And my goldfish is older than both of you.
Mia: Is it your elder goldfish?
Sam: No, it is just an older goldfish. It is a very polite one.