German word

Jahrhundertwende

Pronunciation

IPA/jaːɐ̯ˈhʊndɐtˌvɛndə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounturn of the century

Example

Zur Jahrhundertwende entstanden neue Ideen.

At the turn of the century, new ideas emerged.

Illustration for Jahrhundertwende (turn of the century)

More examples

Um die Jahrhundertwende veränderten sich politische Strukturen.

Around the turn of the century, political structures changed.

Core concept

A calendar boundary where one hundred-year period gives way to the next.

Common phrases

  • zur Jahrhundertwende

    at the turn of the century

  • um die Jahrhundertwende

    around the turn of the century

Similar words

Wende: A turning point involving a major political or social change.
Wendepunkt: A critical point where the direction of events clearly changes.
Umbruch: A sweeping transformation of social structures or institutions.

Definition in German

Zeitliche Bezeichnung für den Übergang von einem Jahrhundert zum nächsten.

Word origin

Jahrhundertwende is a compound of Jahrhundert, 'century', and Wende, 'turn' or 'change', forming a noun for a century's transition.

Usage tips

  • Jahrhundertwende is feminine, so the common phrase is 'zur Jahrhundertwende', with zur contracting zu der and requiring the dative.

Other meanings

  • end of the centurynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Wendepunktturning pointnoun
  • Wendechangenoun

Word lists with this word