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ein alter Bekannter
/aɪn ˈaltɐ bɛˈkantɐtə/
an old acquaintance
Er ist ein alter Bekannter von mir.
He is an old acquaintance of mine.
informal
A person one has known for a long time but is not a close friend or family member.
Wir trafen uns zufällig mit einem alten Bekannten im Café.
We happened to meet an old acquaintance at the café.
This phrase is commonly used to refer to someone you know casually from the past.
Collocations
ein alter Freundan old friendein neuer Bekanntera new acquaintance
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this phrase when referring to someone you know but are not particularly close to, especially in social or casual settings.
Gold Rule
Formality
This phrase is informal and should not be used in formal or professional contexts.
Word Origin
Derived from the adjective 'alt' (old) and the noun 'Bekannter' (acquaintance), emphasizing a long-standing but not necessarily close relationship.
Usage Notes
This phrase is often used when encountering someone from one's past in a casual or social setting.
Word Breakdown
ein
a/an
articlealter
old
adjectiveBekannter
acquaintance
nounDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch