Learn Hardcore German: Mein erstes Zwischenziel ist erreicht. - My first intermediate goal is reached.

Zwischenziel is neuter: das Zwischenziel.
The whole phrase Mein erstes Zwischenziel is the subject of the sentence → nominative case.
For neuter nominative singular after a possessive like mein, the adjective takes the ending -es:
- mein (no ending in masc./neuter nominative)
- erstes (adjective, nominative neuter singular)
- Zwischenziel (neuter noun)

Compare:

mein erstes Ziel – my first goal (neuter)
mein erster Tag – my first day (masculine)
meine erste Aufgabe – my first task (feminine)

So erstes is the correct ending for a neuter, nominative, singular noun after mein.

How do we know that Zwischenziel is neuter?

There is no reliable rule here; you have to learn the gender with the noun.

The base noun is das Ziel (goal, aim) → neuter.
Compounds usually keep the gender of the last part:
- das Haus → das Krankenhaus
- der Mann → der Geschäftsmann
- das Ziel → das Zwischenziel

So:

das Zwischenziel – neuter
Therefore in nominative: mein erstes Zwischenziel.

What does Zwischenziel literally mean, and how is it formed?

Zwischenziel is a compound noun:

zwischen = between
Ziel = goal, aim, target

Literally, Zwischenziel is a “between-goal”, i.e. a goal on the way to a bigger final goal → an intermediate goal.

You’ll see it used for:

learning plans (e.g. language levels)
fitness or weight-loss goals
project milestones

Closely related words:

das Etappenziel – stage goal, milestone
das Teilziel – partial goal

Why is it ist erreicht and not something like hat erreicht?

Ist erreicht here does not mean “has reached” (like English perfect).

The structure is:

ist = form of sein (to be)
erreicht = past participle of erreichen, used like an adjective

So ist erreicht means “is reached / is achieved”, describing a state, not an action. This is called the Zustandspassiv (stative passive):

Mein erstes Zwischenziel ist erreicht.
= My first intermediate goal is achieved / is reached (state/result).

If you used hat erreicht, you’d need a different subject:

Ich habe mein erstes Zwischenziel erreicht.
= I have achieved my first intermediate goal.
(Here ich is the person doing the action.)

Is ist erreicht a kind of passive? How is it different from wurde erreicht?

Yes, ist erreicht is the stative passive (Zustandspassiv), while wurde erreicht is the event passive (Vorgangspassiv).

Mein erstes Zwischenziel ist erreicht.
Focus: the resulting state – the goal is now achieved.
Mein erstes Zwischenziel wurde erreicht.
Focus: the event / process of reaching it – the goal was reached (at some point).

Often:

ist erreicht ≈ emphasizes the situation now (the result)
wurde erreicht ≈ emphasizes what happened (the action)

Both are correct; which one you use depends on what you want to highlight.

Why is the verb order ist erreicht and not erreicht ist?

Because here ist is just the main verb “to be”, and erreicht functions like a predicate adjective, similar to:

Mein Ziel ist klar. – My goal is clear.
Mein Ziel ist wichtig. – My goal is important.
Mein Ziel ist erreicht. – My goal is achieved.

In these structures:

The finite verb (ist) stands in second position.
The adjective or participle (klar, wichtig, erreicht) comes right after it.

The order erreicht ist would only appear in a subordinate clause with a stative passive:

… weil mein erstes Zwischenziel erreicht ist.
…because my first intermediate goal is achieved.

Why is it Mein erstes Zwischenziel and not Meine erstes Zwischenziel?

Because Zwischenziel is neuter, not feminine.

Possessive mein works like this in the nominative singular:

Masculine: mein Vater
Neuter: mein Ziel
Feminine: meine Mutter

So:

das Zwischenziel → mein Zwischenziel
With the adjective: mein erstes Zwischenziel

If the noun were feminine, you’d see meine erste …:

die Etappe → meine erste Etappe – my first stage/leg

What case is Mein erstes Zwischenziel in, and how can I tell?

It’s in the nominative case, because it is the subject of the sentence.

To identify the nominative, ask:

Who or what is in this state / doing the action?

In this sentence:

What is achieved? → Mein erstes Zwischenziel.
So Mein erstes Zwischenziel = subject = nominative.

That’s why you see nominative forms:

mein (not meines/meinem/meinen)
erstes (nominative neuter)
Zwischenziel (base form)

Can I also say Ich habe mein erstes Zwischenziel erreicht? What’s the difference?

Yes, that’s a very natural sentence, but it means something slightly different.

Mein erstes Zwischenziel ist erreicht.
Focus: the goal and its state – it is now achieved.
Ich habe mein erstes Zwischenziel erreicht.
Focus: you and your achievement – you have accomplished it.

Both are correct:

Use ist erreicht if you care more about the status of the goal.
Use habe erreicht if you care more about your action/achievement.

How do you pronounce Zwischenziel?

Roughly like TSVI-shen-tseel in English spelling.

More precisely:

Zw = tsv (like ts in cats plus v)
i in Zwi- = short i as in bit
sch = sh sound as in shoe
ie in Ziel = long ee (like in see)
Final l is clear, as in leaf

Stress pattern: ZWI-schen-ziel – primary stress on the first syllable.

Is Zwischenziel commonly used, and in what kinds of situations would a German say this sentence?

Yes, Zwischenziel is quite common, especially when talking about plans, projects, or progress.

You might hear Mein erstes Zwischenziel ist erreicht in contexts like:

Learning: after passing an exam that is part of a longer learning path.
Fitness/sport: after hitting a weight or performance milestone.
Projects: after finishing an important project phase.
Personal development: after achieving an early step toward a big life goal.

It’s a natural way to celebrate progress while implying that there is still a bigger final goal ahead.