hyggelig

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cozy, pleasant, nice, friendly, nice
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/ˈhʏɡːəli/
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Warm, pleasant ease in places, moments, news, and social behavior, with a stronger sense of welcome and comfort than a bare positive judgment.

Examples

  • Den nye naboen virker veldig hyggelig.
    The new neighbor seems very nice.
  • Vi møtte flere hyggelige folk på toget.
    We met several pleasant people on the train.
  • Den lille hytta føltes hyggelig selv i regnet.
    The small cabin felt cozy even in the rain.
  • Kafeen har et hyggelig rom innerst ved vinduet.
    The cafe has a cozy room at the back by the window.
  • Hun var hyggelig mot gjestene hele kvelden.
    She was friendly to the guests all evening.

Similar words

trivelig
hjemlig
lun
koselig
gledelig
behagelig
omgjengelig
grei
innbydende
imøtekommende

Meanings

Cozy, pleasant, or welcome

adjective
everyday
neutral
Comfortable and agreeable in a warm, homelike, or quietly pleasing way, whether describing a place, a shared occasion, news, or a small kindness.

Examples

  • Vi hadde en hyggelig kveld med gamle venner.
    We had a pleasant evening with old friends.
  • Kafeen har et hyggelig rom innerst ved vinduet.
    The cafe has a cozy room at the back by the window.
  • Det var hyggelig å høre at alle kom trygt hjem.
    It was nice to hear that everyone got home safely.
  • Takk for en hyggelig middag.
    Thank you for a lovely dinner.
  • Den lille hytta føltes hyggelig selv i regnet.
    The small cabin felt cozy even in the rain.

Similar words

Friendly and easy to be with

adjective
social
neutral
Pleasant, kind, and approachable in a way that makes social contact feel relaxed and welcome.

Examples

  • Den nye naboen virker veldig hyggelig.
    The new neighbor seems very nice.
  • Hun var hyggelig mot gjestene hele kvelden.
    She was friendly to the guests all evening.
  • Det er hyggelig av deg å hjelpe til.
    It is kind of you to help.
  • Vi møtte flere hyggelige folk på toget.
    We met several pleasant people on the train.
  • Servitøren var hyggelig uten å være påtrengende.
    The waiter was friendly without being pushy.

Similar words

Etymology

Derived from Norwegian hygge with the adjective suffix -lig. NAOB also compares Old Norse hyggiligr, meaning thoughtful or sensible.

FAQ

What does hyggelig mean?

Hyggelig means cozy, pleasant, nice, or friendly, depending on whether it describes a place, a moment, news, or a person.

Is hyggelig the same as koselig?

Koselig leans more toward cozy comfort, while hyggelig also covers friendly people, welcome news, and pleasant social moments.

Can hyggelig describe a person?

Yes. A hyggelig person is friendly, pleasant, and easy to be with.

What does bare hyggelig mean?

Bare hyggelig is a common response to thanks, close to you are welcome or my pleasure.

Where does hyggelig come from?

Hyggelig is built from hygge plus -lig, with older Scandinavian links to ideas of thoughtfulness and comfort.

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