Ancien, adj : ancient, old, former.

The French word « ancien » looks almost the same as the English word “ancient.”

The most common meaning of “ancient” in English is “very old.”

In French, the meaning of the word « ancien » depends on its position in relation to the noun it modifies.

If the word « ancien » follows a noun, it means “old or ancient.”
If the word « ancien » comes before the noun, it means “former.”

Je préfère les meubles anciens aux contemporains.
 I prefer old furniture to modern.

Cette façon de faire est assez ancienne.
This way of doing it is quite old.

Il a acheté notre ancienne voiture.
He bought our old car. (In this example, old = former.)

Ce professeur est un ancien pompier.
 This teacher is a former firefighter.

C’est une ancienne élève.
She’s a former pupil.