gezellig

comparative more gezellig · superlative most gezellig

1. rareHaving a cosy or pleasant, or sociable atmosphere; convivial and inviting.First known use late 20th c.

   But the square used to be better, it was very gezellig, when everybody […] sat outside […] always chatting, and it's still a bit like that, like how are you, neighbour, but it's not like in the past when they sat outside all evening.

   2003, Talja Blokland, “The Neighbourhood in the Imperfect Past”, in Lee K. Mitzman, transl., Urban Bonds: Social Relationships in an Inner City Neighbourhood, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Polity Press in association with Blackwell Publishing, →ISBN, page 198

   2 more examples

   Learning to tolerate the continual close presence of other people is important for living in Holland. Taking gezellig pleasure in the presence of all these others is the Dutch way. […] Gezellig is the end which justifies social activity. Whatever is not gezellig is on its face unpleasant, and to be avoided.

   1996, Loren S. Barritt, “The Netherlands and Its System of Education”, in An Elementary School in Holland: Experiment in Educational Practice, Utrecht,: International Books, →ISBN, page 22

   King Willem-Alexander and to the people of the Netherlands, your hospitality has been remarkable, your organization has been flawless. […] I'm told there's a Dutch word that captures this spirit, which doesn't translate exactly into English. But let me say that my first visit to the Netherlands has been truly gezellig. (Laughter.)

   2014 March 25 (date delivered), Barack Obama, “Press Conference with President Obama and Prime Minister [Mark] Rutte of the Netherlands, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands”, in The White House, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2026

   Antonyms: ongezellig