Gemütlichkeit
Encyclopedia
Gemütlichkeit is a German
abstract noun that has been adopted into English. Its closest equivalent is the word "coziness"; however, rather than merely describing a place that is compact, well-heated and nicely furnished (a cozy room, a cozy flat), Gemütlichkeit connotes
the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the opportunity to spend quality time
.
Queen Victoria
is said to have been one of the first to use the adjective gemütlich in English. In the 1973 English contract law
case Jarvis v Swans Tours Ltd
, a holidaymaker sued after not receiving the Gemütlichkeit promised by the promotional literature for a package holiday
to the Swiss Alps.
connotations of Gemütlichkeit are also emphasized in some uses of the term. For example, one academic
described it as a tradition of "public festivity" (in the form of a "mixture of music, food, and drink"), which "promote[d] community solidarity." The Harlem Renaissance
was then cited as of how a sense of Gemütlichkeit arises from a "mix of music, art and politics in service of community consciousness".
A more uncommon use of Gemütlichkeit can be found in reference to the economic policy makers and analysts in the United States involved in influencing the decisions of the board of the Federal Reserve System
. With respect to the "inflation dampening effects of globalization
", a Georgia Southern University
professor writes that interpreting certain U.S. economic trends could "spell an end of the Gemütlichkeit - a situation in which cheap labor and money abroad as well as ever-increasing productivity at home had permitted an uninterrupted spell of controlled growth in overall prices".
. Gezellig is used frequently by Dutch speakers and is one of the most important Dutch words because it describes the ideal cultural setting, one that is cozy and inclusive.
The Swedish equivalent is "gemytligt", derived from the German word and with the same meaning.
There is also a Danish equivalent (hygge ˈhyɡə), which basically means the same. Danes will attest the uniqueness of hygge as compared to Gemütlichkeit. Germans, in turn, will attest the uniqueness of Gemütlichkeit as compared to Hygge.
In Norwegian the word translates into "koselig", or "hyggelig".
In Russian and Bulgarian, the word commonly translated as cosiness, уют oˈjut in Bulgarian
and ʊˈjʉt in Russian, carries almost identical connotations as the German word.
In Czech
, 'pohoda' means cozy, ease, tranquility and well-being. A group of people may have 'pohoda' together.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
abstract noun that has been adopted into English. Its closest equivalent is the word "coziness"; however, rather than merely describing a place that is compact, well-heated and nicely furnished (a cozy room, a cozy flat), Gemütlichkeit connotes
Connotation
A connotation is a commonly understood subjective cultural or emotional association that some word or phrase carries, in addition to the word's or phrase's explicit or literal meaning, which is its denotation....
the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the opportunity to spend quality time
Quality time
Quality time is an informal reference to time spent with loved ones which is in some way important, special, productive or profitable. It is time that is set aside for paying full and undivided attention to the person or matter at hand...
.
Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
is said to have been one of the first to use the adjective gemütlich in English. In the 1973 English contract law
English contract law
English contract law is a body of law regulating contracts in England and Wales. With its roots in the lex mercatoria and the activism of the judiciary during the industrial revolution, it shares a heritage with countries across the Commonwealth , and the United States...
case Jarvis v Swans Tours Ltd
Jarvis v Swans Tours Ltd
Jarvis v Swans Tours Ltd [1972] is an English contract law case on the measure of damages for disappointing breaches of contract.-Facts:Mr. Jarvis was a solicitor for Barking Council. He chose to go for Christmas holiday in Switzerland. He got a brochure from Swan Tours Ltd, which for Mörlialp,...
, a holidaymaker sued after not receiving the Gemütlichkeit promised by the promotional literature for a package holiday
Package holiday
A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...
to the Swiss Alps.
Recent usage
The word can be used in descriptions of holidays. The communalCommunity
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
connotations of Gemütlichkeit are also emphasized in some uses of the term. For example, one academic
described it as a tradition of "public festivity" (in the form of a "mixture of music, food, and drink"), which "promote[d] community solidarity." The Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
was then cited as of how a sense of Gemütlichkeit arises from a "mix of music, art and politics in service of community consciousness".
A more uncommon use of Gemütlichkeit can be found in reference to the economic policy makers and analysts in the United States involved in influencing the decisions of the board of the Federal Reserve System
Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913 with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, largely in response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907...
. With respect to the "inflation dampening effects of globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
", a Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
professor writes that interpreting certain U.S. economic trends could "spell an end of the Gemütlichkeit - a situation in which cheap labor and money abroad as well as ever-increasing productivity at home had permitted an uninterrupted spell of controlled growth in overall prices".
Similar words in other languages
Somewhat similar is the term gezellig in DutchDutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. Gezellig is used frequently by Dutch speakers and is one of the most important Dutch words because it describes the ideal cultural setting, one that is cozy and inclusive.
The Swedish equivalent is "gemytligt", derived from the German word and with the same meaning.
There is also a Danish equivalent (hygge ˈhyɡə), which basically means the same. Danes will attest the uniqueness of hygge as compared to Gemütlichkeit. Germans, in turn, will attest the uniqueness of Gemütlichkeit as compared to Hygge.
In Norwegian the word translates into "koselig", or "hyggelig".
In Russian and Bulgarian, the word commonly translated as cosiness, уют oˈjut in Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
and ʊˈjʉt in Russian, carries almost identical connotations as the German word.
In Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
, 'pohoda' means cozy, ease, tranquility and well-being. A group of people may have 'pohoda' together.