Geisterstunde

witching hour, dead of night

noun GAIS-ter-shtoon-duh Rare

Usage Note

Geisterstunde literally means 'ghost hour' and refers to midnight or the hours around it, associated with supernatural events. Used both literally and jokingly. Um die Geisterstunde = 'around midnight'.

Examples

"Das Kind wachte zur Geisterstunde auf und hatte Angst."

Natural Translation

The child woke up at the witching hour and was scared.

Literal Translation

The child woke at the ghost-hour and had fear.

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