Koselig

Meaning: Warmth, intimacy and ease at once — a room, a meal or an evening can be koselig, and so can a person.

Literally: Cosy, but more

Origin: Norwegian; near-cousin to Danish hygge, though Norwegians are firm that the two are not the same.

More Norwegian untranslatable words

Harryhandel The day trip over the border into Sweden to buy meat, sweets and drink far cheaper than a…
Matpakke The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
Takk for sist A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…
Forelsket The overwhelming, almost dizzy euphoria of falling in love — that specific state of early…
Friluftsliv The philosophy and practice of spending time outdoors — not as exercise or sport, but as…
Utepils The specific pleasure of sitting outside in the sun and drinking a beer — a ritual that f…

Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.

Courir sur le haricot To get badly on someone's nerves.
Tienes menos luces que un barco pirata You're really not the brightest.
Eres más lento que el caballo del malo You're painfully slow — the villain's horse never catches the hero.

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