spirit
Loading your saved state.
spirit
The special, often positive and motivating mood, attitude, or enthusiasm within a group; team spirit.
Der gute Spirit in der Mannschaft war entscheidend für den Erfolg.
The good spirit in the team was decisive for their success.
'Spirit' is a modern loanword from English. It is used especially in the professional and sports worlds to describe a positive, dynamic atmosphere.
In unserem Startup herrscht ein ganz besonderer Spirit.
There is a very special spirit in our startup.
In English, 'spirits' can also mean high-proof alcohol. The German word 'der Spirit' does not have this meaning. For that, you say 'die Spirituosen' (spirits/alcoholic beverages) or 'der Schnaps' (schnapps/liquor).
Der Spirit in diesem Team ist unglaublich, alle helfen sich gegenseitig.
The spirit in this team is incredible; everyone helps each other.
In the meaning 'Teamgeist' (team spirit), 'Spirit' is often combined with adjectives such as 'gut' (good), 'positiv' (positive), 'echt' (real/genuine), or 'neu' (new). You can 'haben' (have), 'spüren' (feel), or 'erzeugen' (create) a spirit.
Die neue Managerin hat einen frischen Spirit ins Unternehmen gebracht.
The new manager brought a fresh spirit into the company.
When it is about the 'Geist' (spirit) of an idea or a law, 'Spirit' often appears in the genitive or with 'von' (of/from). It then describes the original intention behind something.
Wir müssen uns auf den Spirit des Vertrags konzentrieren, nicht auf jedes kleine Detail.
We need to focus on the spirit of the contract, not on every little detail.
meaning / sense
'der Sinn' and 'der Spirit' can both refer to the inner idea behind something. 'Sinn' sounds more general and more neutral: it is about meaning, purpose, or intention. 'Spirit' sounds more modern and often more emotional. It refers either to the mood and energy in a group or to the underlying idea behind something. The words can be confused when talking about the idea behind an action. For a clear meaning or purpose, 'Sinn' usually fits better. For team feeling, enthusiasm, or a particular attitude, 'Spirit' sounds more natural.
Nach dem Gespräch war im Team wieder ein guter Spirit zu spüren.
After the conversation, a good spirit could be felt in the team again.
Lisa fragt nach dem Sinn der Übung, weil sie sehr müde ist.
Lisa asks about the purpose of the exercise because she is very tired.