Gezelligheid

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Gezelligheid (noun) or gezellig (adjective) is one of the difficult to translate words in Dutch language. There is no literal equivalent or similar word in English. The German word Gemütlichkeit comes close to the Dutch word in meaning. "Cosy" in English probably has the closest meaning, but gezellig means much more. Gezellig is very colloquial, and is most often used in these contexts: one is with family and/or friends, light is right, people are right, music is right, conversation is right, then the feeling is "gezellig". So, a fantastic combination of cosiness, enjoyment, relaxation, well laid-back at home or chilled-out in a bar, "gezellig".

Because the word "cosy" lacks depth of the word "gezellig" or "gezelligheid", the cosy atmosphere is taught by the parents in the original language, even fourth and fifth generation Dutch immigrants to countries such as Canada and America still refer to the word "gezellig".

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