EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

zeitgeist

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "zeitgeist" come from? It comes from German Zeit, passing through German before entering English (1800s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "zeitgeist" come from? It comes from German Zeit, passing through German before entering English (1800s).

Zeitgeist’s story begins in German: Zeit meant “time.” Within German, it grew into Zeitgeist by 1800s. Combining "Zeit" with "Geist" (spirit), coined in German philosophy. It reached English by 1800s as zeitgeist. German 'time spirit'; Hegel's philosophy of history made the idea famous. Today, zeitgeist means the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history.

  1. Stage 1 · German · medieval Zeit "time", meaning "time".
  2. Stage 2 · German · 1800s Zeitgeist "the spirit of the age", combining "Zeit" with "Geist" (spirit), coined in German philosophy.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s zeitgeist "the defining mood or spirit of a particular period", German 'time spirit'; Hegel's philosophy of history made the idea famous.

Browse by origin