The Particle alt
Alt is a short word in the middle of the clause. It can mean sometimes, with schonn it means now, without waiting, and it can add a shrug: that is just how it is.
How It Works
1. Alt means sometimes
Alt can mean sometimes or from time to time, like heiansdo. It often describes a habit:
- Ier eis Kanner op der Welt waren, si mer alt zweemol d'Woch an de Kino gaangen. (Before our children were born, we would sometimes go to the cinema twice a week.)
2. Alt schonn means now, without waiting
Together with schonn, alt means that you start now and do not wait for the others. The schonn can also be left out:
- Mir ginn alt schonn, dir kënnt jo nokommen! (We will go on ahead, you can follow us!)
3. Alt as a particle
Like the other modal particles, alt can add a feeling to a sentence instead of a meaning. It says: that is just how it is, or here we go again. It often comes with esou, erëm or nees:
- Et geet alt esou. (I am getting by.)
- Mir haten alt erëm eng Kéier Chance. (We were lucky yet again.)
- Wa kee sech mellt, dann afferen ech mech alt! (If nobody volunteers, then I will just do it myself!)
4. Where alt goes
Alt stands in the middle of the clause, after the conjugated verb and after short pronouns such as mer or mech. See pronouns early in the clause. The conjugated verb keeps its second place, so alt never comes before it: Mir ginn alt schonn.
5. Do not mix it up with al (old)
The adjective old is al. Its neuter form is spelled aalt with a long vowel: en aalt Kachrezept (an old recipe). The short word alt is the word from this lesson.
Examples (6)
- Mir sinn alt zweemol d'Woch an de Kino gaangen.
We would sometimes go to the cinema twice a week.
Alt means sometimes here and describes an old habit.
- Mir ginn alt schonn, dir kënnt jo nokommen!
We will go on ahead, you can follow us!
Alt schonn means now, without waiting for the others.
- Et geet alt esou.
I am getting by.
A common answer to Wéi geet et? Alt accepts things as they are: not great, not bad.
- Mir haten alt erëm eng Kéier Chance.
We were lucky yet again.
With erëm, alt stresses that this happens again and again.
- Wa kee sech mellt, dann afferen ech mech alt!
If nobody volunteers, then I will just do it myself!
Alt adds a sigh: there is no other way.
- Ech hunn alt esou meng Bedenken, ob dat eppes gëtt mat hinnen zwee.
I do have my doubts about whether it will work out with the two of them.
Alt esou makes the doubt sound gentle and a little resigned.
Common Mistakes
Writing alt when you mean the adjective old.
Dat ass en alt Kachrezept.Dat ass en aalt Kachrezept.Old is al, and its neuter form is spelled aalt with a long vowel. Alt with one a is the word from this lesson.
Putting alt before the conjugated verb.
Mir alt gi schonn, dir kënnt jo nokommen!Mir ginn alt schonn, dir kënnt jo nokommen!The conjugated verb stays in second place. Alt comes after it, in the middle of the clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before The Particle Alt, learn Small Words That Add Feeling: Dach, Jo, Mol.
Related Patterns
- ëmmer / dacks / heiansdo / niHow Often: Ëmmer, Dacks, Heiansdo, Ni
Heiansdo also means sometimes, and LOD lists it as a synonym of alt.
Level 2 - och / nach / schonnAlso, Still and Already: Och, Nach, Schonn
Schonn joins alt in alt schonn: go ahead now, without waiting.
Level 2 - Pronouns Come Early
Short pronouns come before alt in the middle of the clause.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice The Particle alt in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Luxembourgish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
