From Gezelligheid to Ikigai – 2019’s Answer to Hygge

2019s alternatives to Hygge including the Dutch concept of Gezelligheid and German Gemütlichkeit

We’re all familiar with the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ – that unexplainable, cosy feeling of spending time with loved ones, or the sensation you feel while enjoying a hot drink, or a good glass of wine, in front of the fire as the colder months pass by. However, this winter, hygge is just the beginning. We spoke with the experts at leading language learning app Babbel, (www.babbel.com), who shared four similar concepts for you to familiarise yourself with, helping us to embrace February’s cold snap and keep the winter blues at bay!

Dutch – Gezelligheid

Lucky enough to know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you spend time with someone you love – be it your partner, a friend or your family? Well the Dutch created a word for it: Gezelligheid (pronounced: huh-zella-hite). It’s quite similar to hygge, but it means being somewhere with people, visiting someone, or doing something with others that makes you feel entirely at ease. The concept of gezelligheid can also be used to generally describe a cozy atmosphere or a feeling of comfort.

You can regularly hear Dutch people proclaim that their favourite restaurant is very gezellig. And like hygge, it can be used in any season but is more closely related to autumn and winter. If you wanted to find an English equivalent, you might pick ‘fun’ or ‘cosy’ – both words that we’d associate with the feeling of love and togetherness.

2019s alternatives to Hygge including the Dutch concept of Gezelligheid and German Gemütlichkeit
Cosy up and embrace our alternatives to hygge this winter


German – Gemütlichkeit

In German, Gemütlichkeit (pronounced: guh-mute-leash-kite) is directly translated as ‘cosiness,’ but is best described as a warm feeling of comfort experienced amongst friends – like being in a pub with your nearest and dearest, or wrapped up in a blanket watching a film with your family. In Canadian and American English, “hominess” has a similar meaning, in that it refers to everything that reminds us of home.

Japanese – Ikigai

Ikigai (pronounced: ee-key-guy), delves a little deeper than hygge does, meaning “a reason for life” and referring to the broader actions that bring us happiness. Does your job fill you with passion and purpose? It’s ikigai. Do your friends fill your life with joy? Ikigai! It’s of great importance to the Japanese and is more to do with a process than an end in itself. Considered to be the thing that gets you out of bed each morning, Ikigai is a great philosophy if you struggle during the dreary winter!


Norwegian – Fredagskos

In Norway, the word fredagskos (pronounced: fray-dahgs-koos) literally translates as “Friday cosiness” and specifically refers to that Friday feeling we all know and love. At its core, fredagskos is about pure, indulgent bliss. Make use of winter as the perfect excuse to trade a night out on the town with a Friday night in: treat yourself to a takeaway on the sofa, watching TV with enough sweets to sink a ship. Then when the winds fade, Embrace the Scandi Spring with Belle’s advice here…

  • Emily Cleary

    After almost a decade chasing ambulances, and celebrities, for Fleet Street's finest, Emily has taken it down a gear and settled for a (slightly!) slower pace of life in the suburbs. With a love of cheese and fine wine, Emily is more likely to be found chasing her toddlers round Kew Gardens than sipping champagne at a showbiz launch nowadays, or grabbing an hour out of her hectic freelancer's life to chill out in a spa while hubby holds the babies. If only!

    View all posts
You May also Like