altbekannt
well-known
Known for a long time and therefore familiar or unsurprising.
EXAMPLE
Das ist die altbekannte Ausrede, die wir schon oft gehört haben.
That is the same old excuse we have heard many times before.
altbekannt
well-known
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry altbekannt, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | altbekannt |
|---|
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to altbekannt.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to altbekannt.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to altbekannt.
Usage tips
Word composition
'Altbekannt' (well-known) is made up of 'alt' (old) and 'bekannt' (known). It refers to something that has been known for a long time and therefore seems familiar.
EXAMPLE
Die altbekannte Melodie war sofort zu erkennen.
The familiar melody was immediately recognizable.
Typical collocations
'Altbekannt' (well-known) frequently appears before words such as 'Ausrede' (excuse), 'Problem' (problem), 'Muster' (pattern), 'Argument' (argument), or 'Geschichte' (story).
EXAMPLE
Die Diskussion endete wieder mit dem altbekannten Problem fehlender Zeit.
The discussion once again ended with the familiar problem of not having enough time.
Slightly critical
In many contexts, 'altbekannt' (well-known) sounds slightly critical or ironic because it suggests that something has already been said or experienced many times and is nothing new.
EXAMPLE
Er kam mit der altbekannten Erklärung, dass der Bus zu spät gewesen sei.
He came up with the same old explanation that the bus had been late.
In real life
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