What does gezellig mean? The Dutch word with no translation

Gezellig — cosy, fun, sociable, nice to be with — is the Dutch word everyone says has no translation. What it means, how it is used, its opposite, and the words around it.

Updated November 3, 2026 · 2 min read

Gezellig describes anything that makes people feel comfortable together: a warm living room, an evening with friends, a café full of chatter, a person who is good company. Literally it comes from gezel — companion.

How it is used

• Het was erg gezellig. — It was really nice / fun (a party, an evening).
• Wat een gezellig huis! — What a cosy house!
• Hij is heel gezellig. — He is great company.
• Gezellig! — on its own: Lovely! (when someone says they will come)
• de gezelligheid — the cosy, sociable atmosphere

Its opposite

Ongezellig — dull, unwelcoming, stiff: een ongezellige kamer (a cheerless room), doe niet zo ongezellig! (don’t be such a spoilsport). Note the adjective endings: een gezellig huis, de gezellige kamer — see adjective endings.

Words that travel with it

• lekker — nice, tasty, pleasant (lekker weer, lekker slapen)
• leuk — nice, fun (een leuke film)
• knus — snug
• de borrel — drinks with colleagues or friends — see workplace words

You will hear gezellig after every party, birthday and coffee break — and in the small talk that follows a weekend.

Keep learning

• Dutch small talk
• Dutch birthday customs
• Dutch idioms
• The Dutch phrasebook
• Verb tables: zijn, hebben, gaan, kunnen, moeten, willen, mogen, zullen, worden, wonen, werken, leren, lezen, schrijven, spreken, luisteren, begrijpen, zeggen, vragen, maken, doen, geven, nemen, zien, kijken, denken, vinden

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