bejahrt
/bəˈjaːrt/
The English phrase 'elderly' is translated into German as bejahrt or betagt.
Meaning: old (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| bejahrt | /bəˈjaːrt/ |
| betagt | [bəˈtaːkt] (narrow) |
These terms are used to describe someone who is old. In formal contexts, you can also refer to older people as ältere Menschen or use the term Senioren to mean senior citizens.
Which one should you use?
While both words relate to being old, betagt is a more polite and euphemistic way to describe someone compared to the bluntness of the standard German word alt.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use the word as a noun to mean 'elderly people', it takes the form die Betagten.
How do you pronounce it?
/bəˈjaːrt/
Did you know?
- While bejahrt focuses on years, betagt is derived from Tag, the German word for 'day'.
- The word bejahrt is more common in written literature and formal biography than in daily spoken conversation.
- The prefix be- used in bejahrt and betagt acts as a causative, turning a measurement of time into a state of being.
Examples in context
- Tom war betagt.Tom was elderly.This sentence shows how to use betagt to describe someone's age.Tatoeba #6614959 by Felixjp, translation #2239781 by CK
- Wir müssen den Bedürfnissen älterer Menschen gerecht werden.We must meet the needs of elderly people.
- Unser Unternehmen organisiert Aktivitäten für Senioren.Our company organizes activities for senior citizens.
Example conversation
Sarah and Julian are talking about a new neighbor.
- SarahHast du den neuen Nachbarn gesehen?Have you seen the new neighbor?
- JulianJa, er wirkt sehr bejahrt.Yes, he seems very elderly.
- SarahEr sieht aber sehr gesund aus.But he looks very healthy.
- JulianDas stimmt, er ist sehr aktiv.That's true, he is very active.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elderly” translations and entries bejahrt, betagt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bejahrt, betagt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
