Normally, I translate any Dutch words I use on the blog by putting the English translation in brackets directly afterwards. But with this particular word, that is an impossible task.
So much so, that it requires a whole blog post!
“Cosy” I hear you say…
Is it probably the closest translation? Yes. But (and it’s a big but!) gezellig is sooooo much more than that…
In addition to “cosy” just not cutting the mustard, an English speaker wouldn’t use the word cosy in the same context as Dutch people use gezellig. You would never hear an English person say, “That was a really cosy evening.” EVER.
“Comfortable”
That’s another close one. Close, but no cigar. Sure, in some instances, you could use comfortable… but “That was a really comfortable evening.” NOPE.
“Fun”
Again, close, but if it was ONLY fun, you’d say “het was leuk” (it was fun). Gezellig is on another level.
Gezellig is gewoon gezellig.
Here are some comments from the blog on this subject:
Rody de Groot: The word ‘Gezellig’ cannot be translated to any language in the world with the same meaning as ‘Gezellig’ means in Holland. It’s a typical Dutch word. Guess we invented ‘Gezelligheid’…
Sloeberjong: Lekker is used a lot, but I do keep wondering when your blog about “gezelligheid” will premier. It’ll be a challenge to explain that to non-Dutchies!
Tanja: No translation is proper for the word gezellig, it means that people are having a good time, but it can also mean that your house looks cosy, or comfortable. Or if people do not get along that is ongezellig.
Thomas Gresnich: What I miss is the word “gezellig”, meaning something like cosy. Everything is “gezellig”, like: come for a gezellig kopje koffie. Are you coming tonight? Ja, gezellig. How was the party? Very gezellig. Why don’t you stop smoking? I find it so gezelllig, een sigaretje (a cigarette).
Rockerriert: Cosy is only part of the meaning of gezellig. There’s no English word that covers the whole meaning.
So, just what does this word mean?
Replace gezellig with cosy, comfortable, fun or even convivial and you only have PART of the meaning. The only way I can find to explain it without having experienced yourself is with examples:
As Thomas says: People, places, buildings, parties and situations can be gezellig:
- “Utrecht is zo gezellig.” (In this context could mean quaint, enjoyable, pleasurable – or a combination!)
- “Pieter’s feestje was echt gezellig.” (Pieter’s party was really awesome, had a great atmosphere, was spent in great company.)
- “Marcel is een gezellige man.” (Possible meanings: entertaining, friendly, pleasant.)
The atmosphere (at a pub, for example) can be gezellig. That feeling of a pleasant, friendly ambience and having a good time.
It can also refer to the notion of belonging, time spent with loved ones, seeing a friend after a long time apart, or general togetherness that gives a warm feeling.
Hey, even smoking can be gezellig!
It encompasses such a broad range of descriptions, emotions and uses that it simply cannot be translated to any other language in one word.
And what’s this Gezelligheid you speak of?
Gezellig is the adjective form and Gezelligheid is an abstract noun. So adding -heid roughly translates to -ness: coziness, togetherness, gezelligness.
Dus, ik zei het nog een keer: gezellig is gewoon gezellig.
So, I’ll say it again: gezellig is just gezellig.
Come to the Netherlands and experience it for yourself! Lijkt me gezellig!
Hayley x
The word “gezellig” is closely related to the word “gezel”. “Gezel” is the Dutch word for an apprentice in a medieval guild, i.e. a journeyman. This word “gezel” stems from a much older Old High German word that meant “housemate”. If I’m right, then “gezellig” pretty much describes everything or anyone that makes you feel at home.
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Good post. I love the word gezellig and wish we had an english equivalent. For egample…how would you describe 3 six foot dutch men across the back seat of a moris minor? Ja…gezellig!
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I never truly understood the meaning behind ‘gezellig’ until 2 months into my Utrecht experience when I went for a meal with extended Dutch family. Everything about that evening was ‘gezellig’ from the conversation, to the people, to the decor, to a hilarious occurrence with my friend’s scarf, to eventually leaving the house and going to Boulevard for a sneaky biertje (it was a saturday night after all!),to the cycle home afterwards slightly inebriated but very happy 😉 To me, gezellig cannot be explained, it has to be felt!
Just thinking about that night is gezellig! 🙂
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A dutch saying: ” Gezelligheid kent geen tijd” , meaning when it is gezellig, time flies. We Ducth find a lot of things just gezellig. Kind regards, Thomas
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So nice to read !!! I really like your posts. I can learn so much from it! I will be living in the UK within 2 weeks!!! I will be working as an au-pair! ☺️
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It’s really funny you write about this! I am a Dutchie living in Ireland for nine months and I often want to say gezellig but I just can’t find the right English word for it! Most of the times I just say I had a great time or something looks nice. Love your blog,I always enjoy reading your posts!! 🙂
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Makes me feel super homesick for some gezelligheid! Aussie husband hasn’t got a clue what it means and doesn’t even do ‘borrelen’, sigh…
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Oh god I love that word! There’s literally no good equivalent for it and I miss using it so much now that I live in Dublin. Sometimes you just really want to put on some gezellige socks and have some gezellige tea with friends!
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And what about the (American) English ‘great’? To me, that comes the closest to ‘gezellig’ but, like any all-encompassing word, it depends how you say it!
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No! Great is so superficial, so fake. But that is partly because I imagine an American saying it, so you have a point adding it depends on how you say it.
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This! Gezellig really can’t be translated, not in English, and not even in my native language Finnish. I mean, how would you translate something in one word that can be used to describe almost anything from a person to giving birth at home with no pain relief? Impossible.
But, gezelligheid rocks. It really is one of my favourite things about the NL 🙂
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When i try to explain the word gezellig is usualy say to people it means there was a good atmosphere or a very nice vibe.
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It’s easy to explain to Danes. By one word.
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In Afrikaans gesels means chatting or gezelzen in Dutch, which occurs in van Dale dictionary but not in Google translate. Gesellig in Afrikaans is used mostly in the same way as gezellig in Dutch.
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Apartheid ook zo’n leuk/gezellig Nederlands woord.
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There is a Yiddish word that comes close: “Haimish” which, I think, has something to do with “home”. When I feel that a situation, a house, a person or an activity is gezellig, I feel it very viscerally. It is a *good* feeling. A feeling that makes you smile, but not a broad smile. Like a “knowing” smile, maybe a grin. It’s a feeling in your heart. It just makes you feel good. Makes you think of the expression “aaaaaaahhhhh….”. Sometimes I think it can be interchanged with the phrase “good atmospher”, like in Spanish they say “ambiente”. Anyway, it’s something you need to experience to be able to feel and identify.
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Love to read your blog. Thanks!
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Ahhh, thanks Winifred! So nice of you to say so! 🙂
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Your blog is so much fun to read! Things we Dutch people don’t even think twice about are suddenly almost alien… I never ever second guessed the calender in the bathroom, or the tiny sink without hot water. Or the word Gezellig… It isn’t something you can explain because it isn’t something touchable. It’s a feeling. More that just fun, more than just comfortable, more than just cosy. It’s all wrapped up in one awesome and widely used word. Gezellig. You should introduce it back in the UK, maybe it’ll catch on 😀
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Thanks for the lovely comments, Danne! New post coming up soon about your ‘Strange’ Dutch Celebrations… Sarah/Abraham and the weird stuff you do when you have babies 😉
Oh and I would love to, but no one would be able to pronounce it!
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I am a Danish expat living in the Netherlands and I actually fully understand ‘gezellig’.
In Danish we have the word ‘hyggelig’, which is a precise translation of ‘gezellig’.
In Denmark people also say that no other language has a word for ‘hyggelig’, but then again not many Danes know Dutch.
We take it one step further than the Dutch take ‘gezellig’. We use it as a verb: ‘I aften skal vi rigtig hygge’ meaning ‘tonight we will really be having a gezellig time’.
Thank you Bitterballenbruid for your lovely blog. I discovered it a couple of days ago and am making my wayt through the archives with great reading pleasure.
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Thanks for your lovely comment, Dane in Dordrecht 😊
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