hey alter
hey alter is the German way to say 'hey bro'.
The phrase is an informal greeting used between close male friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Alter literally means 'old man' or 'old one', but in this context, it is used colloquially to mean 'dude' or 'buddy'.
Which one should you use?
While you can use the literal English translation of 'brother' by saying Hallo, Bro! or Hi, Bruder!, the phrase hey alter is more specifically associated with youth slang.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hey alter is highly informal slang and should only be used among close friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In northern Germany, you might hear the casual greeting Moin, Alter! to mean 'Hey dude!'
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual German, Alter can be used as a standalone interjection to express surprise, frustration or emphasis, much like how English speakers use 'dude' or 'man'.
Did you know?
- The word Alter has a long history of being used in German to denote status or age, but its transition into a generic term for 'friend' happened primarily through hip-hop culture.
- While Alter is very common among young men, it is rarely used by women or toward women, as it is strongly gendered in its slang usage.
- If you use Alter in a professional setting or with a stranger, it is not just seen as informal, it is often perceived as rude or even aggressive.
Examples in context
- Moin, Alter! Lust auf einen Kaffee?Hey dude! Fancy grabbing a coffee?
- Hallo, Bro! Wie geht's dir?Hey bro! How are you?
- Hallo, Bruder! Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag!Hey bro! Happy birthday!
- Hey Alter, wie geht's?Hey bro, how's it going?
- Hey Alter, lange nicht gesehen!Hey bro, long time no see!
- Hey Alter, hast du Zeit?Hey bro, do you have time?
Example conversation
Sarah greets her close male friend Lukas at a cafe.
- SarahHey Alter, alles klar bei dir?Hey bro, everything good with you?
- LukasJa, passt alles. Und bei dir?Yeah, everything's fine. And you?
- SarahAuch gut. Willst du einen Kaffee?Good too. Do you want a coffee?
- LukasJa gerne, danke Sarah!Yes please, thanks Sarah!
