What does “den Geist der Zeit getroffen” mean in German?
Elektro-SUV GLC: Bremer Mercedes-Werk vor Verbrenner-Aus?
B2 German listening practice · German · Picked for people who know more
A reporter opens the story about a new Mercedes electric SUV by saying the carmaker “hat den Geist der Zeit getroffen” — hit the spirit of the time. It is a warm, slightly impressed way to say the car arrived at exactly the right moment and matched what buyers wanted. The proof follows straight away: it was ordered more than any other Mercedes electric car in its first three months.
Spoken in the clip: “Mit diesem Auto haben sie offenbar den Geist der Zeit getroffen.” — “With this car they have clearly hit the spirit of the time.” “Geist” is spirit or mind, “Zeit” is time, and “treffen” here means to hit the mark. Together they say something fits exactly what people want now. More examples: “Die Serie hat den Geist der Zeit getroffen” (the show captured the mood of the moment). “Mit dieser Idee triffst du den Geist der Zeit” (your idea is just right for now). Often used to praise; “offenbar” softens the claim to “apparently, by the looks of it.”
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this B2 German listening practice video?
How common in written German
How common in spoken German
Harder words in this video
These words are harder than B2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-DE 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.