this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (4 children)

From what I looked up it means something like dude or mate. It's also used when expressing suprise? If native speaker has better insight I'd appreciate it.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's pretty much just "dude", vor talking with friends. Other widely used versions include "Digga" and "Bruder"

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Omg you just can’t go say the d word. /s

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Ok digga dann eben nicht

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The English "Yo" is a really good translation. You can use it to express surprise ("Alter! Wtf!" - "Yo! Wtf!") or to address someone ("Alter, was geht?" - "Yo, whats up?").

"Yo" really is the best translation I can think of.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The literal meaning is a really informal "old one" but can also mean "age" in another context. It is used exactly like you described.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So Germans colloquially call each other "old man"? That's kinda hilarious

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It is one way to do so, german youth also use several english terms or "Digga" which is a modified form of the word "Dicker" meaning fat. Although I am no linguist I would assume that Alter and Dicker were used in combination with Freund (friend) first since those are valid phrases that still are in use.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

As much as English speakers call each other "male sibling" or "canine".

Technically correct, but no one makes that association in everyday language.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Learn Austrian German instead, all you need is the dialect version of Alter: Oida

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Or if you go further north you need to use Alder

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

Oida

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