Why do I need to know Geist?
Because Geist is a great word to have up your sleeve when you're talking about spooky apparitions of all varieties - but beyond this ghostly realm, it also has some interesting religious and philosophical meanings.
What does it mean?
Der Geist (pronounced like this) can be simply translated as 'ghost' in English, and in fact, both words share the same German root. The old Indo-German word gheis means to be frightened or scared, which is certainly an apt response to seeing a ghost from the netherworlds.
If you know anything about different types of ghosts, you've probably heard of a Poltergeist, which literally translates as a noisy or rumbling ghost in Germany. These spirits are known for causing a nuisance by knocking pictures off the wall and smashing your best china plates, so the noisy moniker certainly fits.
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Less well-known spirits include the Quälgeist - a tormenting ghost - and the Plagegeist, or ghost of the plague. Though you hopefully won't encounter these apparitions any time soon, their names can be used to scold a friend or family member who continuously bothers you when you just want to be left in peace.
Much like in English, you can attach Geist to the start of words to denote something a little bit eerie or spooky. During the Covid-19 pandemic, sports teams played what were known as Geisterspiele - eerily silent matches played in a stadium without a crowd. Meanwhile, the Geisterbahn - or ghost train - is a popular ride at the fairground that takes you on a blood-curdling ride through a haunted house.
Of course, if you've heard words like Zeitgeist in the past, you'll probably understand that Geist has a much broader meaning than simply referring to spooks from the underworld. This broader meaning can be much better translated with the English word spirit or soul, so that Zeitgeist becomes the spirit of the age.
People who have studied at a German university may have heard of the Geisteswissenschaften - or the humanities. These "spirit sciences" relate to the study of human philosophy, literature and thought - fields that grew out of religious study and education.
It's useful to think of religion when you think of Geist, because the separation between body and spirit - der Körper und der Geist - is ultimately a religious concept. In Christian theology, when the body perishes, the soul or spirit - that is, the Geist - lives on. If you're familiar with the Holy Trinity, you may also have heard of the heiliger Geist, or Holy Spirit, which is one of God's three forms.
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Similarly, a geistlicher Vater is a spiritual father, which can either be God or some other earthly religious figure or spiritual messenger.
Back in the realm of the flesh, the word Geist can be used to refer to strong alcohol - a bit like the English word 'spirit'. This type of Schnapps or Spirituose isn't one to drink on an empty stomach, since it generally has to be at least 37.5 percent alcohol. So be sure to tread carefully with a shot of Geist, lest your soul leave your body and pass over into the other world.
Use it like this:
Der Körper stirbt, aber der Geist überlebt.
The body dies, but the spirit survives.
Lass mich jetzt endlich in Ruhe, du Quälgeist!
Leave me alone now, you pesky ghost!
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