German word

Jahrhundert

Pronunciation

IPA/jaːɐ̯ˈhʊndɐt/

Meaning

  • neuter nouncentury

Example

Seit einem Jahrhundert versuchen Menschen, dieses Problem zu lösen.

People have been trying to solve this problem for a century.

Illustration for Jahrhundert (century)

More examples

Im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert entstanden viele neue Erfindungen.

Many new inventions emerged in the twentieth century.

Core concept

A historical chapter spans a full hundred-year block, linking many generations under one label.

Common phrases

  • im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert

    in the twentieth century

  • Anfang des Jahrhunderts

    at the beginning of the century

  • Ende des Jahrhunderts

    at the end of the century

Similar words

Jahr: A basic time unit covering twelve months and used when counting age.
Jahrzehnt: A period covering ten consecutive years within a longer span of time.

Definition in German

Eine Periode von hundert Jahren, oft zur Einteilung historischer Epochen verwendet.

Word origin

Jahrhundert combines the German words Jahr ('year') and hundert ('hundred'), following an older German compound with the same structure.

Usage tips

  • In historical dating, im 18. Jahrhundert normally means the years 1701 through 1800, not 1800 through 1899.

Related words

Word lists with this word