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stranger
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stranger
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I am wondering if perhaps anyone knows of a word that I have been trying to rediscover for years. I originally read it in the New York Times travel section. It was an article about Amsterdam and the bars there that were very warm, friendly, cozy. The Dutch have a word that describes the warm, comfortable feeling and the cozy atmosphere in
these small pubs. Several people have suggested that the word is "gezellig". This is a very good word, but not the one that I am thinking of that was used in the article. Thanks for any help.
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veteran
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veteran
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In German, they use "die Gemütlichkeit" which roughly translates to "coziness" in English, although I was told by my German profs that it embodies more than just "coziness."
I'm not familiar with "gezellig." I'm guessing that's the adjectival form of "gezelligheid."
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'm sure BranShea will be able to help as she speaks Dutch. On the etymology side of things: Dutch gezellig 'cozy, comfy' is related to German Gesell 'companion, fellow' and derives from the Germanic root * sal whence German Saal 'hall' (also English salon, saloon via Italian, cf. English comrade, German Kamrad, from Latin camera 'room', also French chambre, German Kammer and English home and homey both the noun and the adjective). German Gesellschaft 'association', gesellen 'to join (something)'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Morning, let's face it. To be correct, I don't just speak, I am Dutch.I speak English to a certain degree.(or was this a very subtile joke zmejhzd?)
True;"gezelligheid" doesn't mean exactly the same as coziness. Just like "Gemütlichkeit" does not. (theFll.Friend) It's an often discussed word (with foreigners).
But we have another word: "knus" or "knusse" (adv. and adj.)
Pron.: the sound is like in "just"and "thus" .This is so cozy it might smother you, but on a cold winter's day you will be happy to enter the "knusse" atmosphere of an Amsterdam café, tavern, pub, whatever you want to call it.
Last edited by BranShea; 10/23/2007 8:03 AM.
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Carpal Tunnel
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> knus
is it kuh-nuss or just nuss?
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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I don't just speak, I am Dutch. I speak English to a certain degree. (or was this a very subtile joke?)
No, that would be subtlety unto dissemblance, and that I leave to others. In German Gemütlichkeit is interesting, besides all the affixes, the content word is quite small, Mut 'courage, grit, pluck' (cf. English mood) > Gemüt 'mind' > gemütlich 'canny, comfy, cozy, snug'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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It is kuh-nuss and a typical unword, but an old word. 'Knus'. The summit of 'canny, comfy, cozy, snug'. Total opposite to the 'knutten',the nasty little biters from the silly arudshield definition. Pronounced kuh-nutten.
Knibbel, knabbel, knuistje.
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Carpal Tunnel
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formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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 AWAD's most lucent smile: 
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member
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knus + knutten = kitten? a cozy little furball that bites?
/runs for the shadows
Last edited by Maven; 10/24/2007 8:36 PM.
tempus edax rerum
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