אַלט
alt/aɫt/
The Yiddish word for "old" (referring to a living being) is אַלט (alt). Wiktionary also lists יעריק (yerik).
Meaning: of a living being: having lived for relatively many years (adj)
Ways to say it
| Yiddish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| אַלט | alt | /aɫt/ |
| יעריק | yerik |
The word is used to describe a living being that has lived for relatively many years.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective before a feminine noun, the form אַלט changes to אַלטע. In certain grammatical cases (like accusative or dative) following a definite article, the masculine form of אַלט becomes אַלטן.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is alt and the IPA is /aɫt/.
Did you know?
- In the phrase אַלטע וועלט, meaning 'old world', Yiddish refers to the traditional way of life before the influence of modernity and secularism.
- When talking about age in years, Yiddish uses the word יעריק instead of אַלט. It is added as a suffix to a number to say how many years old someone is.
- The Yiddish word אַלט is a direct cognate of the English word 'old', meaning they both share a common ancestor in Proto-Germanic.
Examples in context
- טאָם איז צו אַלט.Tom is too old.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is too old using אַלט.Tatoeba #9951276 by shekitten, translation #2273561 by CK
- ווי אַלט זענט איר?How old are you?This sentence is useful for asking someone's age using אַלט.Tatoeba #8826401 by shekitten, translation #436243 by lukaszpp
- איך בין נישט אַלט.I'm not old.This sentence is useful for stating that one is not old using אַלט.Tatoeba #11999960 by shekitten, translation #2248165 by CK
- 102 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yitzhak and Miriam are talking about their grandfather.
- יצחק Yitzchakמיין זאַקי איז שוין זייער אַלט.mayn zaki iz shoyn zeyer alt.My grandfather is already very old.
- מרים Miriamער זעט אויס יונג פֿאַר אַלטן מענשן.er zet aus yung far altn menshn.He looks young for an old person.
- יצחק Yitzchakיאָ, ער האָט פֿילענע rootView.yo, er hot filene…Yes, he has many years.
- מרים Miriamדאָס איז גוט, ער איז אַ געזונטער אַלטער מענש.dos iz gut, er iz a gezunter alter mensh.That is good, he is a healthy old man.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old” translations and entries אַלט, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אַלט, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
