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Gezellig meaning: what does gezellig mean in Dutch?
gezellig adjective = cosy, pleasant, sociable
Gezellig is one of the Dutch words you'll hear most: about a place, an evening, a plan or a person's company. Here's what it means, how the Dutch use it in real sentences, and a short game to practise.
Gezellig meaning in English
- cosy, nice, pleasant, sociable, convivial โ having an inviting and friendly ambiance
- inclined to seek the company of others (of a person) โ archaic
Source: Wiktionary: gezellig
Gezellig in real Dutch sentences
- Ja, gezellig!Yes, that'd be lovely! (accepting an invitation to dinner)
- Klinkt gezellig!Sounds nice! (about someone's weekend plans)
- Ja, heel goed. Het is een gezellige dag!Yes, very well. It's a lovely, cosy day!
- Is dat gezellig?Is that nice? (about living in a student house)
- Tradities kunnen veranderen. Het feest blijft even gezellig.Traditions can change. The celebration stays just as enjoyable.
How to use gezellig
Ja, gezellig! is a short, warm way to say yes to an invitation. In the lesson, someone asks if you want to have dinner together tomorrow, and the answer is simply Ja, gezellig!: yes, that'd be lovely.
Klinkt gezellig! (sounds nice) is what you say when someone tells you their plans, like a trip to the market on Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday.
Gezellig can describe a day, a celebration or time with other people. In Het is een gezellige dag! it describes the whole day; in Het feest blijft even gezellig it describes a celebration.
You can also ask about it: Is dat gezellig? In the lesson, someone asks this about living in a student house with six others, and the answer is Meestal wel: mostly, yes.
Before a noun, gezellig usually takes an -e: een gezellige dag, het gezellige feest. With een and a het word there is no -e: een gezellig feest.
The noun is de gezelligheid (cosiness, conviviality), and the opposite is ongezellig: unwelcoming or unsociable.
Gezellig meaning in one line: when a place, a moment or a group of people feels warm, relaxed and friendly, that is gezellig.
Practise it in the game below: listen to the five real sentences, choose the meaning of the related words and fill the gap with gezellig or gezellige.
Quick replies: Someone invites you? Answer Ja, gezellig! (Yes, lovely!). Someone tells you their plans? Say Klinkt gezellig! (Sounds nice!).
Practise it
A short game: listen, choose the meaning, fill the gap and build a sentence.
Words that go with gezellig
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| gezellig | cosy, pleasant, sociable |
| de gezelligheid | cosiness, conviviality |
| ongezellig | unwelcoming, unsociable |
| leuk | nice, fun |
| fijn | nice, pleasant |
| het feest | party, celebration |
| samen | together |
| het gezelschap | company |
Frequently asked questions
What does gezellig mean?
Gezellig means cosy, pleasant and sociable: an inviting, friendly atmosphere (source: Wiktionary).
How do you use gezellig in a sentence?
For example: Klinkt gezellig! (Sounds nice!) or Het is een gezellige dag! (It's a lovely, cosy day!).
What is the noun of gezellig?
De gezelligheid: cosiness, conviviality.
What is the opposite of gezellig?
Ongezellig: unwelcoming, unsociable.
What is the gezellig meaning in English?
Wiktionary gives cosy, nice, pleasant, sociable and convivial. Which one fits depends on the situation: a cosy room, a pleasant evening, a sociable group of friends.
Is gezellig an adjective?
Yes: een gezellige dag, het is gezellig. The noun is de gezelligheid, and the opposite adjective is ongezellig.
Keep learning
- Untranslatable Dutch: beyond grammar, into culture
- Dutch pronunciation: the g, ch, ui, ij, eu and oe sounds
- Dutch greetings: hello, goodbye and introducing yourself
Example sentences from The Dutch Daily lessons; word meanings checked against Wiktionary.