German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Old" in German: alt
alt
Old in German is alt. Comparative is älter, superlative am ältesten. For people, be careful: älter sounds softer than alt.
Apartment
Das Haus ist alt, aber gemütlich.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce alt
Say it
ALT
/alt/
ALT. Clear a as in "father" but short. Final t crisp.
"Old" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| alt | old Base adjective. | Base adjective. |
| älter | older Politer for people. | Politer for people. |
| am ältesten | oldest Superlative. | Superlative. |
| uralt | ancient / really old Emphatic. | Emphatic. |
How to use alt in real life
- 1Apartment
Das Haus ist alt, aber gemütlich.
The house is old but cozy.
Buildings.
- 2Clothes
Meine alten Schuhe sind kaputt.
My old shoes are broken.
alten with plural.
- 3Comparing siblings
Meine Schwester ist älter als ich.
My sister is older than I am.
älter for people.
Mistakes English speakers make with alt
Incorrect: Du bist alt. (to a peer, blunt)
Correct: Du bist älter als ich. / Du wirkst erfahren.
Calling someone alt can sound rude. Älter is softer.
Incorrect: ein alt Mann
Correct: ein alter Mann
Add the ending: alter Mann.
Good to know
Germans joke about being alt at thirty among friends, but with strangers softer wording is safer. Historical sites are proudly alt: die Altstadt is a selling point, not an insult.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing between two bikes
ChatPal
Nimmst du das neue Rad oder das alte?
Are you taking the new bike or the old one?
You
Das alte. Es ist schwer, aber stabil.
The old one. It's heavy but sturdy.
ChatPal
Okay. Das alte hat wenigstens Licht.
Okay. The old one at least has lights.
You
Genau deshalb.
Exactly why.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Old" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Old" in German
What is the comparative of alt?
Älter.
How do you say oldest?
Am ältesten / der älteste.
Is alt rude for people?
It can be blunt. Älter or a specific age is often kinder.
How do you say old town?
Die Altstadt.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
