altern
to age
The natural process of getting older in living beings.
EXAMPLE
Manche Menschen scheinen kaum zu altern.
Some people hardly seem to age.
altern
to age
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Meanings
altern
to age / mature
The process in which materials or products such as wine, cheese, or wood mature through storage and change their properties, often for the better.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Rotwein muss noch einige Jahre im Fass altern, um sein volles Aroma zu entfalten.
This red wine still needs to age in the barrel for a few years to develop its full aroma.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'altern' (to age) belongs to the word family of 'alt' (old, adjective) and 'das Alter' (age, noun). All of these words refer to the process of getting older.
EXAMPLE
Mit dem Alter kommen oft auch die ersten grauen Haare.
With age often come the first gray hairs.
Auxiliary verb in the perfect tense
For the perfect tense of 'altern' (to age), the auxiliary verb 'haben' is usually used. However, when the result or state is emphasized, 'sein' is also common, especially in spoken language.
EXAMPLE
Er hat in den letzten Jahren stark gealtert.
He has aged a lot in recent years.
Context clue
Whether people or things are meant can be recognized from the context. When talking about living beings, 'altern' means to get older. When talking about products such as wine or cheese, it means to mature.
EXAMPLE
Mein Großvater sagt, er fühle sich zu jung zum Altern.
My grandfather says he feels too young for aging.
Use with "lassen"
To describe the maturation process of things like wine or cheese, the construction 'etwas altern lassen' (to let something age) is often used. It means giving the product time to develop its quality.
EXAMPLE
Der Winzer lässt den Wein in alten Eichenfässern altern.
The winemaker lets the wine age in old oak barrels.
Compare with
altern vs veralten
to become outdated
For a product, altern describes a change in its properties over time and through storage. Veralten, by contrast, means that something is no longer up to date in relation to new technology, knowledge, or requirements. The key distinction is therefore a material change versus a lack of currency.
altern
Die Materialien der Kamera altern auch bei sorgfältiger Lagerung.
The camera's materials age even when it is stored carefully.
veralten
Die Technik der Kamera veraltet durch die Entwicklung neuer Modelle.
The camera's technology becomes outdated as new models are developed.
In real life
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