The Dutch word gezellig
is one of the most difficult words to translate, but you'll know it when you
feel it: a gezellig environment is one which allows good times
to happen. Gezellig is comfortable, but also lively: it goes deeper than mere coziness. It's all about a sense of belonging--in this way, it's a near antonym to another untranslatable word, the Portugese saudade, which connotes an existential homesickness.
Wikipedia defines gezellig like this:
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, while being in good company, is "gezellig".
As a city, New York has travelled awfully far from its Dutch roots, but I think all those donated daffodils and tulips might be effecting a rapprochement. To my mind, one of the things that the success of Apartment Therapy signals (the other is that the Ryan Bros. and SK are very smart cookies) is that we're interested not just in commerce but in community, not just in buying well but in living well.
So, sharks and snarks, please move along: here we're more into tolerance and goodwill. We're Dutch like that.
Photo credit: Yohan Creemers (gezellig), Else Kramer (houses)
by shannon
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
who is the guy on the photo? sort of looks like my BIL
Yeah yeah, whatever. I want to see Maxwell's finished kitchen.
Shannon:
My husband is from Holland, so I know this word well. I'm sure he and his family would agree with the wikipedia defintion - it sounds just right.
It really is a very high compliment to whomever arranged things when a gathering (or meal, or room, or home) is called gezellig. Something to aspire to!
Mia--
How would a comment like that make you feel if you had taken the time to write this post?
Sheez.
Thanks for introducing me to this perfect word.
It's interesting how different cultures have names for different things, because it gives a peek through a new lens through which to look at things. In South Louisiana they have the word lagniappe, which I'm not even sure is word in regular French and it means "a little something extra" and usually is given by some kind of merchant to a regular customer.
I think gezellig sounds like good quality to keep in mind when you're feathering your nest.
Reminds me a bit of scandinavians' and their concept of 'cozy.'
Ptoo,
Apparently, I would break down and cry.
So... it means "gelling like Magellan?" (Sorry for the snark -- couldn't resist).
For some reason, my earlier comment got sucked into the black hole of this here interweb.
Anyways, what I was saying is that saudade is the longing FOR that gezellig, left behind in the Algarve, Evora or Lisboa. And it's precisely what I'm feeling right now.
For the audio track, to illustrate what saudade is, those of you who're interested, go to radio pandora.com, type Amalia Rodrigues, and listen to the perfect fado.
I'm gonna pour me some of that 20-yr port I keep for those desperate moments...
mark, in all my years on the internet, i've never had a comment deleted. you're the first to do so. i am shocked. may i ask what your criteria are?
fyi: AT lost a few hours worth of comments across the sites due to a glitch over the weekend...apologies to all whose comments disappeared!
janel,
thanks.
Shoosh! Quit sharing my user name all over town!
German-speakers have the word "gemuetlich"-- another northern European coziness concept. At its best, Gemuetlichkeit (the noun) goes beyond kitchy hominess and aspires to a comment on the sociability inspired by a well-conceived space. But old ladies entering a toasty warm room are still known to sigh-- ach, ist das gemuetlich!