alte

Alte is a German adjective meaning old or ancient. It is used to describe people, objects, traditions, and concepts that have existed or persisted for a long time. In contemporary usage it can convey age, wear, or longstanding status, as in eine alte Eiche or eine alte Tradition.

Grammatical note: German adjectives change form according to gender, number, case, and the presence of articles. With a definite article, the singular form is alte for all three genders: der alte Mann, die alte Frau, das alte Haus. In the plural it becomes alten: die alten Häuser. With an indefinite article or without an article, the strong inflection applies: alter Mann, alte Frau, altes Haus in the singular; alte Häuser in the plural. These patterns reflect standard German adjective declension rules.

Etymology and cognates: Alte comes from the Germanic root widely attested in related languages. It is historically linked to the Old High German word alt and to Proto-Germanic roots that also gave rise to the English word old. The term has retained its core meaning across centuries and remains a common descriptor in modern German.

Usage notes: Beyond describing age, alte can appear in compound terms and place names in German-speaking regions, though its primary use remains adjectival. Its comparative and superlative forms are älter (older) and am ältesten (oldest). In contexts involving respect or affection, alte can be part of respectful or idiomatic expressions, as with cultural or historical references.

See also: Alt, älter, am ältesten.