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  What it means

  Literally “to walk with the spirit of time,” this idiom means to keep up with modern trends, to be current, and to adapt to the changing world. It describes someone who embraces new technologies, fashions, or ideas rather than clinging to the past. Poles use it to praise businesses, institutions, or people who modernize themselves, but it can also be used slightly critically of those who chase trends without substance. You might hear it in contexts like updating a company’s practices, adopting new communication tools, or simply changing one’s wardrobe.

  Vocabulary

  • iść — to go, to walk
  • duch — spirit, ghost (here: spirit of an era)
  • czas — time
  • z duchem czasu — with the spirit of the times, in step with the times

  Grammar note

  The phrase uses the instrumental case: 'z duchem czasu' (with the spirit of time). 'Duchem' is the instrumental singular of 'duch' (masculine noun), and 'czasu' is the genitive singular of 'czas' — the preposition 'z' (with) governs the instrumental. The verb 'iść' is an imperfective infinitive, implying ongoing, habitual action rather than a one-time event.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is neutral to slightly formal in register and is common in journalism, business writing, and everyday conversation. It reflects the Polish cultural value of modernization, especially prominent since Poland's transition to a market economy in 1989. A close English equivalent is 'to move with the times' or 'to keep up with the times.'

  Intermediate

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