altes Haus

German

Etymology

Literally, “old house”, ironic inversion of Casanova (literally “new house”).

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

Noun

altes Haus n (strong, definite nominative das alte Haus, genitive (des) alten Hauses, plural alte Häuser, definite plural die alten Häuser)

  1. (colloquial, especially vocative) friendly greeting, often said to a friend not seen for a long time
    Synonym: alter Schwede
    Greny, altes Haus! Lange nicht gesehen!
    Greny, buddy! Long time no see!
    Altes Haus, was macht die Kunst?
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
    • 1910, Paul Vehling, Die Moral des Hotels: Tischgespräche‎:
      Well, well, altes Haus! Das ist doch einfach großartig! Freue mich ganz barbarisch, dich wiederzusehen.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1934, Hans Fallada, Wer einmal aus dem Blechnapf frisst [Who Once Eats Out of the Tin Bowl]:
      “Na, altes Haus, Kufalt . . .”
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading
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