Come join us, then it will be even more fun and sociable.
Similar words
knus
prettig
sfeervol
gemoedelijk
sociaal
aangenaam
Meanings
Cozy, pleasant, or sociable
adjective
social
neutral
Warm, pleasant, and easy to enjoy, especially because a place, event, or group of people feels welcoming and socially relaxed.
Examples
We hadden een gezellige avond met vrienden.
We had a pleasant, sociable evening with friends.
Dit café is klein maar heel gezellig.
This cafe is small but very cozy and welcoming.
Kom erbij, dan wordt het nog gezelliger.
Come join us, then it will be even more fun and sociable.
Ze maakte de woonkamer gezellig met kaarsen en bloemen.
She made the living room cozy with candles and flowers.
Mijn buren zijn gezellige mensen.
My neighbors are friendly, sociable people.
Het etentje voelde meteen gezellig.
The dinner immediately felt warm and convivial.
Wat gezellig dat je langskomt!
How nice that you are coming by!
Similar words
knus
aangenaam
prettig
gemoedelijk
sfeervol
sociaal
Etymology
Related to Dutch gezel, meaning companion or associate, which also gave gezelschap, company or group of people.
FAQ
What does gezellig mean?
Gezellig means cozy, pleasant, sociable, or warmly welcoming, depending on the context.
Is gezellig the same as cozy?
It can mean cozy, but it often includes social warmth, friendliness, and a pleasant shared atmosphere.
Can a person be gezellig?
Yes. A gezellig person is pleasant, sociable, and enjoyable to spend time with.
What is the opposite of gezellig?
The usual opposite is ongezellig, meaning unpleasant, cold, unfriendly, or lacking atmosphere.
Where does gezellig come from?
It is related to gezel, meaning companion, which helps explain the word's strong link with company and togetherness.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Rapid Snail
Jul 18
Esta palabra me recuerda a acogedor, pero con más gente alrededor
0
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Peppy Oriole
Jul 12
Dutch people really do answer just Gezellig! when you say you are coming over. not only for candles and tiny cafes
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Clever Bunting
Jul 3
In class everyone translated it as cozy and then wrote a cozy person in English. sounds weird in English but een gezellig mens is totally normal, that helped it click
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Quick Donkey
Jul 2
oergezellig is such a satisfying word lol. learned that one before the normal word
1
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Dusty Gibbon
Jul 1
As a German speaker I keep wanting to use gemütlich for it. Close, but Dutch gezellig feels more people-ish to me, like the room and the company together.
1
Reply
Sleek Cheetah
Jun 27
gezelligheid kent geen tijd, my oma says this when coffee somehow becomes dinner
2
Reply
Contribution
Neat Yak
Jun 24
I still get the little e wrong with this one. My teacher let het gezellig cafeetje pass, because -ig words can drop that ending after het or dat, but then de gezellige avond still needs it. Dutch why
4
Reply
Contribution
Wandering Egret
Jun 20
The phrase gezellig druk is worth knowing. It means a place is busy in a good way, like a market or cafe with a bit of life in it, not empty, not horrible crowded. If you mean the train was packed and stressful, just say druk or te druk.