German word

Zeitzeuge

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsaɪ̯tˌt͡sɔʏ̯gə/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwitness to history

Example

Wir haben gestern einen Zeitzeugen getroffen.

Yesterday, we met a witness to history.

Illustration for Zeitzeuge (witness to history)

More examples

Der Forscher zitierte einen Zeitzeugen in seinem Vortrag.

The researcher cited a contemporary witness in his lecture.

Core concept

A person who personally lived through a significant period or event and can describe it from memory.

Common phrases

  • mit einem Zeitzeugen sprechen

    speak with a contemporary witness

  • einen Zeitzeugen interviewen

    interview a contemporary witness

  • die Aussage eines Zeitzeugen

    a contemporary witness's statement

Similar words

Zeuge: A person who witnessed an event and can testify about what happened.
Überlebender: A person who lived through and survived a particular event or era.
Zeitgenosse: A person living in the same historical period as others.

Definition in German

Jemand, der eine bestimmte Epoche oder ein wichtiges Ereignis persönlich miterlebt hat und als Zeitzeuge dazu Auskunft geben kann.

Word origin

Zeitzeuge combines Zeit, meaning 'time' or 'era', with Zeuge, meaning 'witness', forming a compound for a witness to a historical time.

Usage tips

  • Zeitzeuge is a masculine weak noun: the plural and most singular oblique forms are Zeitzeugen, while the feminine form is Zeitzeugin.

Other meanings

  • contemporary witnessnoun

Related words

  • Zeitzeugenberichtcontemporary-witness reportnoun
  • Zeitzeugenarchivcontemporary-witness archivenoun
  • zeitzeuglichrelated to contemporary witnessesadjective

Word lists with this word