gezellig

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*sel-“dwelling; human settlement, village”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱóm“beside, by; near; with”
3. Proto-Germanic · derived from*gasaljô“companion; housemate”
4. Old Dutch · derived fromgisello
5. Middle Dutch · derived fromgesellich
6. Dutch · borrowed fromgezellig
7. English todaygezellig

Borrowed from Dutch gezellig, from Middle Dutch gesellich, from geselle (“companion”) + -ich (suffix forming adjectives). Geselle is derived from Old Dutch gisello, from Proto-Germanic *gasaljô (“companion; housemate”), from *ga- (“prefix denoting association or togetherness”) (from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“beside, by; near; with”)) + *saljô (“companion; roommate”) (from *salją (“building; chamber, room”), from *salą (“dwelling, house; hall, (main) room”), or *saliz- (“dwelling, house; hall, room”), both from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“dwelling; human settlement, village”)).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 20th c. Having a cosy or pleasant, or sociable atmosphere; convivial and inviting.