veraltet sein

You use veraltet sein to talk about things that are no longer current. This can be technology, ideas, fashion, or even methods. It’s a descriptive phrase, often used when something is still functional but not what people use anymore. For example, an old operating system might be veraltet. You could also describe a dated fashion trend that’s making a comeback, but for now, it's just veraltet. It fits perfectly when you want to explain why something isn't ideal for today's world. Think of it as a polite way to say 'so last century!'

• Your grandma's dial-up internet connection is definitely veraltet.
• That flip phone you found in your closet? Veraltet.
• Legal documents from the 1950s might be veraltet and need updating.
• A software program that hasn't been updated in years is veraltet.
• Some old-school marketing strategies are now veraltet.
• A movie plot that feels like it’s been done a million times could be described as veraltet.

Use veraltet sein when you're talking about things that are no longer modern, useful, or relevant in the current context. It's great for technology, like old phones or computers. It works for outdated ideas or concepts, like believing the Earth is flat. Fashion trends that have cycled out are also prime candidates. Think of anything that feels like it belongs to a previous era. If it makes you feel a bit like a time traveler, it’s probably veraltet.

Don't use veraltet sein for people in a negative way. While you might say someone's *ideas* are veraltet, you wouldn't typically call a person veraltet unless you're being very informal and perhaps a bit jokey. It's also not for things that are simply old but still valuable or classic, like a vintage car that's cherished. It's about obsolescence, not just age. Avoid using it for things that are still perfectly current and widely used. Your brand-new smartphone isn't veraltet, even if a newer model just came out!

Learners often confuse veraltet with simply 'old' (alt) or 'broken' (kaputt). While something veraltet might also be alt, the key is the lack of modernity. And if it's kaputt, it doesn't work at all, whereas veraltet things often still function, just not in a relevant way. Using alt can sound like you're just stating a fact about age, missing the nuance of obsolescence. Using kaputt implies it's broken, which isn't the point.

• ✗ My phone is old. → ✓ My phone is outdated.

(German: ✗ Mein Handy ist alt. → ✓ Mein Handy ist veraltet.)

• ✗ The plan is broken. → ✓ The plan is outdated.

(German: ✗ Der Plan ist kaputt. → ✓ Der Plan ist veraltet.)

• ✗ This music is old. → ✓ This music is outdated.

(German: ✗ Diese Musik ist alt. → ✓ Diese Musik ist veraltet.)

• altmodisch: This is very close and means old-fashioned. It often has a slightly stronger, sometimes negative, connotation than veraltet. Think of someone wearing clothes strictly from the 1950s – they are altmodisch.
• überholt: This means outdated or superseded, often used for technical things or concepts that have been replaced by something better. Like an überholt theory.
• nicht mehr zeitgemäß: Literally 'no longer contemporary'. This is a more formal way to say something is outdated, often used in official contexts or discussions about societal norms.

Sometimes you'll hear veralten as a verb, meaning 'to become outdated'. For example, Die Technologie veraltet schnell (Technology quickly becomes outdated). You might also see veraltete Technik (outdated technology) or veraltete Ansichten (outdated views) used as adjectives before a noun. The core idea remains the same: something is past its prime.

• What's the quickest way to say something is outdated in German?

Use veraltet sein. It's common and widely understood.

• Can I use veraltet for people?

Generally, no. It's better for objects, ideas, or systems. Calling a person veraltet can sound rude.

• Is veraltet a negative word?

Not always. It's descriptive. It can be neutral, or slightly negative if the context implies something *should* be updated but isn't.

• What's the difference between veraltet and alt?

Alt just means old. Veraltet means old *and* no longer current or relevant.