hygge

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cosiness, comfortable togetherness, well-being, enjoy oneself, have a cosy time
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/ˈhykə/
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A Danish noun for comfortable, unhurried well-being and a verb for enjoying or creating that kind of pleasant time.
Practice using hygge in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Vi hygger os med te og brætspil.
    We are having a cosy time with tea and board games.
  • Vi nød aftenens hygge.
    We enjoyed the evening's comfortable togetherness.
  • Stearinlysene skabte hygge i stuen.
    The candles created a cosy atmosphere in the living room.
  • Der var rigtig hygge omkring pejsen.
    There was real cosiness around the fireplace.
  • Hun forbinder julen med hygge og ro.
    She associates Christmas with cosiness and calm.

Similar words

gemytlighed
slappe af
nyde
forkæle
more sig
behag
hjemlighed
velvære

Meanings

Comfortable, companionable well-being

noun
everyday
neutral
A pleasant feeling or atmosphere of comfort, ease, safety, and unhurried enjoyment, alone or with other people.

Usage

Use hygge for relaxed well-being created by a situation or shared activity, not merely for attractive décor. Trivsel is broader well-being, while hjemlighed stresses a homelike quality rather than the enjoyable moment itself.

Examples

  • Der var rigtig hygge omkring pejsen.
    There was real cosiness around the fireplace.
  • Stearinlysene skabte hygge i stuen.
    The candles created a cosy atmosphere in the living room.
  • Vi nød aftenens hygge.
    We enjoyed the evening's comfortable togetherness.
  • Hun forbinder julen med hygge og ro.
    She associates Christmas with cosiness and calm.
  • Det var ren hygge at spille kort sammen.
    Playing cards together was pure hygge.

Common mistakes

The noun is uncountable in this sense and should not be treated as an English-style plural or as a verb.
IncorrectCorrect
Vi havde mange hygger i ferien. Vi havde meget hygge i ferien.
Jeg hygge i aften. Jeg hygger mig i aften.
Hygge betyder kun stearinlys. Hygge kan opstå på mange måder, også uden stearinlys.

Similar words

velvære
behag
gemytlighed
hjemlighed

Enjoy or create a pleasant time

verb
everyday
neutral
To spend time pleasantly and at ease, often expressed reflexively as hygge sig, or to make someone or somewhere comfortable and welcoming.

Usage

Use hygge sig for enjoying oneself, hygge med for enjoying an activity or company, and hygge om for caring for someone or making a setting welcoming. Slappe af only means to relax and does not necessarily include the warm social quality of hygge.

Examples

  • Vi hygger os med te og brætspil.
    We are having a cosy time with tea and board games.
  • Hun hyggede sig med en bog hele aftenen.
    She enjoyed a relaxing time with a book all evening.
  • De vil hygge med familien i weekenden.
    They will spend a pleasant time with the family this weekend.
  • Jeg hyggede om gæsterne med mad og tæpper.
    I made the guests comfortable with food and blankets.
  • Børnene sad og hyggede sig i hulen.
    The children sat cosily enjoying themselves in the den.

Common mistakes

The finite verb must be inflected, and the reflexive construction requires mig, dig, sig, or another matching pronoun.
IncorrectCorrect
Jeg hygge mig hjemme. Jeg hygger mig hjemme.
Hun hygger med sofaen. Hun hygger sig i sofaen.
Vi hyggede os om et spil. Vi hyggede os med et spil.

Similar words

nyde
slappe af
more sig
forkæle

Usage

The noun names the pleasant feeling or atmosphere. The verb commonly appears as hygge sig, with other constructions including hygge med and hygge om.

Common mistakes

Jeg hygge mig is incorrectly uninflected. In the present tense write jeg hygger mig.

Etymology

Borrowed into Danish from Norwegian hygge in the nineteenth century. The word is related to Old Norse hyggja, meaning to think or feel, and hugr, meaning mind or mood.

FAQ

What does hygge mean?

As a noun it means comfortable, unhurried well-being or a pleasant atmosphere. As a verb it means enjoying or creating that kind of time.

Does hygge require candles?

No. Candles may help create it, but conversation, food, games, rest, or quiet time can also produce hygge.

How is hygge used as a verb?

Common patterns include hygge sig, hygge med someone or something, and hygge om someone.

How is hygge pronounced in Danish?

A standard Danish pronunciation is /ˈhykə/.

Is hygge always social?

No. It often involves companionship, but a person can also experience hygge alone.

Where does hygge come from?

Danish borrowed it from Norwegian in the nineteenth century, with earlier roots related to mind, mood, and thought.

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