A Whole Culture Wrapped Into One Little Word: ‘Gezellig’
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The Scandinavians have hygge, but the Dutch have ‘gezellig’. As I mentioned in the previous blog article here on OLS, language informes culture and vice versa. And of all the Dutch words, it could be argued that ‘gezellig’ is the one that informs our culture the most. If you’ve visited the Netherlands before you may have noticed that the people can feel quite welcoming and friendly, but there is also a sense of a down to earth coziness in the culture. It is something that cannot be easily grasped or held onto, but it is a kind of transient sentiment that makes up the secret layers of a culture and creeps into all aspects of it. In the Netherland that part of culture is called: ‘gezelligheid’. You can find it everywhere: in a small café’s, in a crowded park on Sunday and behind the doors of family homes.
What it means?
‘Gezellig’ means something along the lines of ‘cozy’, ‘inviting’ and ‘fun’. It is most used to describe a social situation, for instance, a dinner with friends or family. But an atmosphere or home can also be ‘gezellig’ with elements like a fireplace, candles, some laid-back music and a good book.
The word originally comes from the word ‘gezel’ which means ‘companion’ or ‘friend’. And during the Middle Ages a ‘gezel’ was also the Dutch term for ‘journeyman’, which in the Dutch guild system was a person belonging to a group formed around a master craftsman. (1)
How to use the word ‘gezellig’
The best compliment you can give a friend who you’ve been to dinner with is ‘het was gezellig’ (i.e. it was ‘gezellig’). Or when you’re invited to dinner with a friend, you can respond with a simple ‘gezellig’ which means that you accept the invitation.
However, beware of hidden irony or sarcasm: as with the word ‘leuk’, that was mentioned in the previous blog, ‘gezellig’ can also be subject to sarcasm. Especially if someone exaggerates the word with saying for instance ‘héél gezellig hoor’, it can actually mean the opposite to ‘gezellig’ which is ‘ongezellig’.
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How to bring ‘gezelligheid’ into your own life?
‘Gezelligheid’ is luckily not reserved only for the lucky few who have grown up in this culture. You too, wherever you may be, can bring a sense of ‘gezelligheid’ into your life. Below I will share some examples:
- You can bring elements of ‘gezelligheid’ into your home with warm blankets and throws, soft cushions, decorations, candles and a gentle playlist (bonus points if you have an old-fashioned record player).
- You can also bring ‘gezelligheid’ into clothes you wear with fluffy socks, a warm checkered pyjama, a wool jumper and a cosy hat.
- But the place where you can bring the most ‘gezelligheid’ into your life is in your habits. You can think about baking a ‘gevulde speculaas’ (i.e. a Dutch specialty), cooking up a stew, having a candle-lit dinner with a loved one, going on a long winter walk in the countryside, or sitting outside of café with friends on a sultry summer’s night.
It’s important to note though that ‘gezelligheid’ is a deeper part of Dutch culture, so it’s not only limited to certain situations or the colder seasons. ‘Gezelligheid’ is about feeling comfortable with and appreciative of your living environment, the people around you and the life that you’re living.
Join the conversation
Now it’s your turn to share your story and ideas with the community. How would you like to bring ‘gezelligheid’ into your life? And if you are or have already been in the Netherlands, how have you experienced this part of culture?
You can share your ideas in the forum here.
Until next time!
Marieke, OLS Community Manager - Dutch
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