In German
Alter
Meaning: dude, man (casual address)
Formal or informal? Strictly casual, used among friends or peers. Literally “Alter” means “old man/elder”, but as slang it's a gender-neutral filler address, similar to “dude” or “man” in English. Never use it with strangers, elders, or in formal settings.
Example sentences
Alter,daswarkrass!
Dude, that was wild!
Alter,wartemal.
Hold on, man.
HeyAlter,wiegeht's?
Hey man, how's it going?
Common mistake
Don't use “Alter” with someone you don't know well or in a professional context — it can sound disrespectful outside of casual friend-to-friend speech.
Quick check
Which slang word means “dude” as a casual address?
More words on this topic
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Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Does “Alter” literally mean “old man”?
Yes, literally — but as slang it just means “dude” or “man”, regardless of the listener's age.
Is “Alter” rude?
Not among friends, but it can come across as too familiar or disrespectful with strangers or in formal settings.