French phrase

[Christine Conlon]

 

Can anyone help please with the phrase 'l'air du temps'?

[George Hunt]

[NC edit: According to one opinion, it is intended to mean "spirit of the era":]

it is new to me

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_L'_Air_du_Temps_mean_in_English

and seems strange but it seems quite common.

[Christine Conlon]

Thank you - I couldn't remember the English and it does mean 'spırıt of the era /age'.

[George Hunt]

I think we say most commonly "spirit of the times"

Mind you "zeitgeist"  which  is also a literal translation of the term (I think it may translate as "ghost-time" is also pretty common  in English usage and  ,for all I know it the idea may have come from the German expression.  

[Christine Conlon]

Thank you George.

''Spirit of the tımes'' also works very well.  

I thınk I would prefer to translate it ınto English rather than use ''zeitgeist''.

 I do know there is a Nina Ricci perfume called 'L'Air du Temps' too!!