• @SchrodingersPat@lemmy.mlOP
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    158 months ago

    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.

    • FQQD
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      158 months ago

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

      • edric
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        88 months ago

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

    • @Flumsy@feddit.de
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      118 months ago

      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.

    • @Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      98 months ago

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

      • DreamButt
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        98 months ago

        So Germans colloquially call each other “old man”? That’s kinda hilarious

        • @Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          8 months 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.

        • @Tvkan@feddit.de
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          8 months ago

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

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