German Conversation · Level 16
88 words
German word
uralt
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈuːɐ̯alt/
Meaning
- adjectivevery old
Example
Das ist ein uraltes Haus.
That is a very old house.
More examples
Das Dorf pflegt eine uralte Tradition.
The village maintains a very old tradition.
Core concept
An object or tradition so old that its beginnings disappear into the distant past rather than a date that can be easily recalled.
Common phrases
eine uralte Tradition
a very old tradition
Similar words
alt: Having existed or been in use for a long time.
antik: Valuable for its age and made in an old historical style or from old materials.
historisch: Connected with events, periods, or people from the past.
altmodisch: Following a past style or way of doing things rather than current practice.
Definition in German
sehr alt; aus einer Zeit stammend, die weit vor der Gegenwart liegt
Word origin
The prefix ur- adds the idea of primordial or earliest origin to the Germanic adjective alt, creating a word for exceptional age.
Usage tips
- Uralt applies to things such as buildings, traditions, and stories, and it does not by itself mean historically verified or literally prehistoric.