gemütlich
Americanadjective
-
comfortable and pleasant; cozy.
- Synonyms:
- pleasant, comfortable, agreeable
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- Synonyms:
- relaxed, approachable, affable, amiable
adjective
Etymology
Origin of gemütlich
First recorded in 1850–55; from German; late Middle High German gemüetlich, equivalent to gemüet(e) ( German Gemüt ) “mind, mentality” (collective derivative of mut, Old High German muot “courage, spirit”; see mood 1) + -lich -ly
Explanation
Gemutlich refers to a feeling of comfort, warmth, and well-being. Think of a warm, cozy living room with a blanket on the couch or a dinner party with good friends. Gemutlich is from the German word Gemüt, which means "feelings, mind, heart, or soul." The -lich part is an adjective ending similar to English -ly as in friendly. Something that is gemutlich is good for the heart. It makes you feel content and comfortable inside, like you belong in this place. You can also describe a person or their personality this way, meaning they're friendly, cheerful, or easy to get along with.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.