Standard Lemma guide

gezellig

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ɡəˈzɛlɪɡ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /həˈzɛlə/ following the Dutch pronunciation
  • /hɛ-/ following the Dutch pronunciation
  • /-lɪk/ following the Dutch pronunciation; semi-learned
  • /xəˈzɛlə/ following the Dutch pronunciation
  • literary: /xəˈzɛləx/ following the Dutch pronunciation
  • rhymes with -ɛlɪɡ

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a cosy or pleasant, or sociable atmosphere; convivial and inviting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch gezellig, from Middle Dutch gesellich, from geselle (“companion”) + -ich (suffix forming adjectives). Geselle is derived from Old Dutch gisello, from Proto-Germanic *gasaljô (“companion; housemate”), from *ga- (“prefix denoting association or togetherness”) (from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“beside, by; near; with”)) + *saljô (“companion; roommate”) (from *salją (“building; chamber, room”), from *salą (“dwelling, house; hall, (main) room”), or *saliz- (“dwelling, house; hall, room”), both from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“dwelling; human settlement, village”)).