gemütlich
Americanadjective
-
comfortable and pleasant; cozy.
- Synonyms:
- pleasant, comfortable, agreeable
-
- 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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The production, spryly directed by Barry Heins, takes place on a gemütlich set by Evan A. Bartoletti that looks like Vermont through a Laura Ashley filter.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2023
It is gemütlich in German and gezelligheid in Dutch; in English, you might say “smelly candles”.
From The Guardian • Mar. 2, 2020
Every summer, New York’s Public Theatre puts on a fund-raising event in Central Park that is modest, stellar, and gemütlich.
From The New Yorker • Jan. 18, 2015
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have gemütlich, which translates to “comfortably homey.”
From Time • Jan. 13, 2015
In his loneliness he was glad to have met these good people, who were not very distinguished in their manners but were simple and gemütlich.
From Jean-Christophe, Volume I by Cannan, Gilbert
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.
