Untranslatable wordEverydayDutch

Gezellig

Meaning: The warm, fuzzy feeling of being somewhere cosy and comfortable with people you like — a state of togetherness that is almost impossible to translate.

Literally: Cozy / convivial

Origin: Dutch; central to Dutch culture and identity; 'ongezellig' (its absence) is an insult.

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Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Big Actually means 'piglet'. For big, say groot.
  • Kind Actually means 'child'. For kind (nice), say aardig or vriendelijk.
  • Wet Actually means 'law'. For wet, say nat.

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