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zeitgeist

English translation: zeitgeist (spirit or general outlook of a specific time or period)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Zeitgeist
English translation:zeitgeist (spirit or general outlook of a specific time or period)
Entered by: Steffen Walter

10:12 Jan 7, 2004
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
German term or phrase: zeitgeist
Something more elegant than 'the spirit of the times' would be appreciated. :)
logan
spirit, outlook, mood
Explanation:
Whilst I agree with Steffen's answer, my English Collins dictionary defines Zeitgeist as "the spirit or general outlook of a specific time or period".

For information, really.

Regards,

Joanne
Selected response from:

Joanne Parker
Local time: 03:55
Grading comment
Thanks very much! :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +16zeitgeist
Steffen Walter
4 +1spirit, outlook, mood
Joanne Parker
4the genius of the time
Yuri Smirnov
4 -1Essence of the epoch
Alex Zelkind (X)
2spirit of the time
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +16
zeitgeist


Explanation:
You'll be surprised (or rather not?) to hear that this is one of the few German terms frequently taken over in English usage.

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Note added at 5 mins (2004-01-07 10:17:28 GMT)
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see also http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2002/05...

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Note added at 6 mins (2004-01-07 10:18:12 GMT)
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It\'s also written with a capital Z.


    Reference: http://www.google.co.uk/press/zeitgeist.html
    Reference: http://www.oup.co.uk/oxed/secondary/modern_languages/zeitgei...
Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 04:55
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 12418

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jerrie: Previous KudoZ question in glossary agrees! Spirit of the age /times & Zeitgeist!
2 mins
agree  IanW (X): Yes, if the text is reasonably highbrow
10 mins
agree  Susanne Rindlisbacher
18 mins
agree  Joanne Parker: Agree with Ian
19 mins
agree  Louise Mawbey
22 mins
agree  Claire Titchmarsh (X)
23 mins
agree  Robert M Maier
56 mins
agree  Gordon Darroch (X): with Ian, though IMO it's becoming more widespread
1 hr
agree  Chris Rowson (X): Around 1970 I used to read a (very trendy of course) cartoon called "Phoebe Zeitgeist". It was probably about the second German word I learned.
1 hr
  -> According to my knowledge, the term became part of En usage as early as in the mid-19th century.
agree  Heidi Stone-Schaller
2 hrs
agree  verbis: bingoooooooooooooooooooooooo
2 hrs
agree  gangels (X)
2 hrs
agree  Dipl.-Kfm. Bernhard Aicher MBA
2 hrs
agree  Norbert Hermann
3 hrs
agree  Maria Danielson: this is English, along with weltschmerz and schadefreude (usually spelled without capitals)
4 hrs
  -> Thanks for the overwhelming feedback (which didn't impress the asker at all, though).
agree  Laurel Porter (X): This should have been the answer chosen... Even Americans who've never heard of weltschmerz and schadeNfreude know what zeitgeist is!
7 hrs
  -> Well, the asker decided otherwise (for whatever reason). That's how life goes...
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the genius of the time


Explanation:
-

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2004-01-07 10:21:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

... Historical note: The word was coined by mutating the word \'zeitgeist\' meaning the
spirit or genius of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or ...
www.bytegeistsoftware.com/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2004-01-07 10:23:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

... line), Pferderennen (horse-race), Pre?freiheit (freedom of the press), Visitenkarte
(visiting-card), Volkslied (popular song), Zeitgeist (genius of the time);. ...
mypage.bluewin.ch/Looser.Roman/Reflex/ EnglischEinfluss17-18Jh.rtf

... lightning conductor, Freimaurer < free mason, Kaffeehaus < coffee house, Volkslied
< popular song, Zeitgeist < genius of the time; Lehn?bertragung: Tatsache ...
www.etymologie.info/~e/u_/uk-______.html

Yuri Smirnov
Local time: 05:55
Native speaker of: Native in BelarusianBelarusian, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in pair: 18
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
spirit, outlook, mood


Explanation:
Whilst I agree with Steffen's answer, my English Collins dictionary defines Zeitgeist as "the spirit or general outlook of a specific time or period".

For information, really.

Regards,

Joanne

Joanne Parker
Local time: 03:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 48
Grading comment
Thanks very much! :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: Yes, that is why I've added the dictionary ref., which contains a similar definition.
5 mins
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Essence of the epoch


Explanation:
Or:
Essence of the era

Alex Zelkind (X)
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Chris Rowson (X): Epoch and era both suggest vast expanses of time, but Zeitgeist is very much a thing of the moment. More this minute than this millennium.
57 mins
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
spirit of the time


Explanation:
agree with Stefan that it should not be translated, however, if you want to here is a good reference:
Webster for zeitgeist
": the spirit of the time : the general intellectual and moral state or the trend of culture and taste characteristic of an era *the zeitgeist of these centuries T operated against the development of a pure science J.K.Robertson* *speed is a part of our zeitgeist; it is basic T to our ability to produce V.E.Leichty"

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 5577
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