gute Zeiten
The English phrase "good times" can be translated into German as gute Zeiten.
gute Zeiten is used to refer to a period of prosperity or happiness.
Which one should you use?
While gute Zeiten refers to a period of prosperity or happiness, the phrase schöne Zeiten (beautiful times) is often used more colloquially to refer to pleasant memories or nostalgic moments.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase gute Zeiten uses the plural adjective ending -e for gute because Zeiten is a plural noun in the nominative or accusative case without a definite article. The phrase changes to guten Zeiten when used in the dative case, such as after the preposition in (for example, in guten Zeiten).
Did you know?
- In German, you can 'kill time' using the phrase Zeit totschlagen. The verb totschlagen literally means 'to beat to death', making the expression much more violent than the English idiom.
- A common way to express longing for schöne Zeiten is through the word Wehmut, a specific type of melancholy or yearning for a happy past that English has no single word for.
- The word Zeit is the root of the English word 'tide'. In Old English, 'tide' meant 'time' or 'season' rather than the movement of the ocean.
Examples in context
- Das waren gute Zeiten!Those were good times!This sentence is useful for demonstrating the phrase gute Zeiten.Tatoeba #8631046 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5827354 by arh
- Komm vorbei und hab viel Spaß!Come over and have lots of fun!
- Wir hatten wirklich gute Zeiten zusammen.We really had good times together.
- Das sind einfach gute Zeiten!These are simply good times!
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are looking at old photos.
- JuliaSchau mal, das waren wirklich gute Zeiten!Look, those were really good times!
- MaximilianJa, wir waren damals so glücklich.Yes, we were so happy back then.
- JuliaWir sollten bald wieder so etwas erleben.We should experience something like that again soon.
- MaximilianDas ist eine tolle Idee, Julia.That is a great idea, Julia.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
