Der Zeitgeist



Example: Der Zeitgeist der 1920er Jahre prägte Kunst und Mode stark.

Definition


"Der Zeitgeist" refers to the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history, especially as reflected in the ideas, beliefs, and cultural trends prevalent at that time. It captures the collective consciousness influencing society's actions and expressions.

Etymology


The term "der Zeitgeist" comes from German, combining "Zeit" meaning 'time' and "Geist" meaning 'spirit' or 'ghost.' It literally translates to 'spirit of the time.' Did you know that the concept has been widely used in philosophy and history to describe the cultural climate of an era?

Learn to use this word actively


"Der Zeitgeist" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 210 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.

Create a free account