<p><strong>Hygge</strong> means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. </p><p>The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cozying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there's nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life.</p>

What does "hygge" mean?

<p><strong>Danish winters </strong>are known to be long and dark, and so the Danes fight the darkness with their best weapon: hygge, and the millions of candles that go with it.</p>

The high season of hygge

<p><em><em>Hygge was never meant to be translated - it was meant to be felt!</em></em></p>

<img src="https://www.visitdenmark.com/sites/visitdenmark.com/files/styles/hero/public/2020-03/81ec421dcfa3bae27f4d5faf592d4e7ac5588bf20d066bcf93c063e2b4a7706c.jpg?h=9bf18b20&amp;itok=L9ongUhv" width="800" height="359" alt="Figure out what the Danish word Hygge is and how to hygge" title=""><p>Hard to explain and even harder to pronounce, the Danish word "hygge" (pronounced "hoo-gah") has exploded in popularity around the world. It translates roughly to "cosiness," but it means so much more than that. So what is hygge, really?&nbsp;Read on to find out!</p><h2>What does hygge mean?</h2><p dir="ltr">Hygge is as Danish as&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86bleskiver" rel="noopener" dir="ltr">æbleskiver</a>&nbsp;and it goes far in illuminating the Danish soul. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cosying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there's nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are some of the happiest people in the world.</p><img src="https://www.visitdenmark.com/sites/visitdenmark.com/files/styles/highlight_big/public/2019-03/copenhagen-frederiksberg%20garden-people-happiness-hygge.jpg?h=d00eacac&amp;itok=2Vlejr2o" width="708" height="343" alt="Danish happiness hygge " title=""><h2>The origins of Danish hygge</h2><p>Hygge didn't originate in the Danish language but in old Norwegian, where it meant something like "well-being." It first appeared in Danish writing around the end of the 18th Century and the Danes have embraced it ever since. One good thing about hygge is that you can apply it anywhere, and Danes allocate it generously to everything commonplace, as you will surely find out on your visit to Denmark.</p><img alt="Copenhagen hygge at bar meet the danes" width="294" height="166"><img alt="Storms Pakhus Street Food Odense" width="294" height="166"><h2>How to hygge in summer</h2><p dir="ltr">If you plan on visiting <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/summer/summer-denmark" dir="ltr">Denmark during the summer months</a> don’t despair. Hygge is something that happens all year round. Picnics in the park, barbeques with friends, outdoor concerts, street festivals and <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/cycling" dir="ltr">bike rides</a> can all be very hygge, especially when done the Danish way. If you're unsure where and how to begin your hygge adventure,&nbsp;the ultimate <a href="https://copenhagenbymie.com/tours/hygge-happiness" title="Hygge and Happiness Tour " rel="noopener" dir="ltr">hygge and happiness tour</a>&nbsp;can get you started. It will undoubtedly show you how to find your own happy hygge place. You can also hygge on a <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/explore/goboat-gdk1090148" dir="ltr">GoBoat</a> (below), one of Denmark's solar-powered self-drive boats. We're not going to tell you where to hygge. Only that you should do it!</p><img src="https://www.visitdenmark.com/sites/visitdenmark.com/files/styles/highlight_big/public/2019-03/copenhagen%20harbour%20goboat_0.jpg?h=1b4d3fe0&amp;itok=GWXbhKym" width="708" height="343" alt="copenhagen harbour goboat" title=""><h2>The high season of hygge</h2><p dir="ltr">The high season of hygge is <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/christmas" dir="ltr">Christmas</a>. Danes lead a secular lifestyle but when it comes to religious holidays, they pull out the stops. Danish winters are known to be long and dark, and so the Danes fight the darkness with their best weapon: hygge, and the millions of candles that go with it. If you have ever been to <a href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/explore/christmas-tivoli-gardens-gdk1096403" rel="noopener" dir="ltr">Tivoli Gardens</a> or walked the streets of Copenhagen during the festive season, you have an idea of what Danes can do with lighting, mulled wine (known as gløgg for the locals), blankets and oversize scarves. If you haven’t maybe it’s time you try.</p><img src="https://www.visitdenmark.com/sites/visitdenmark.com/files/styles/highlight_big/public/2019-03/Odense-christmas-market.jpg?h=170ba4b8&amp;itok=le0inf1a" width="708" height="343" alt="Christmas market in Odense" title=""><h2>What do you want to read next?</h2><p>Let's add a little more hygge into your life...</p><div>How to hygge in a Danish holiday home or holiday cottage</div><img alt="North Jutland Holiday House Hygge" width="100" height="100"><div>12 ways you can get happy in Denmark</div><img alt="Danish happiness hygge " width="100" height="100"><div>22 unique things to do in Denmark</div><img alt="Attend the Santa Claus Convention at Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park" width="100" height="100"><div>Get to know the Danish Royal Family</div><img alt="Amalienborg Palace, the Queen's residence in Copenhagen" width="100" height="100">

Find out what hygge is, what it means to Danes, how to pronounce it and how to hygge throughout the year.

parenting

Parenting

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

<p>Hard to explain and even harder to pronounce, the Danish word "hygge" (pronounced "hoo-gah") has exploded in popularity around the world. It translates roughly to "cosiness," but it means so much more than that. So what is hygge, really? Read on to find out! </p>

<p dir="ltr">Hygge is as Danish as <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86bleskiver" rel="noopener">æbleskiver </a> and it goes far in illuminating the Danish soul. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cosying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there's nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are some of the happiest people in the world. </p>

<p>Hygge didn't originate in the Danish language but in old Norwegian, where it meant something like "well-being." It first appeared in Danish writing around the end of the 18th Century and the Danes have embraced it ever since. One good thing about hygge is that you can apply it anywhere, and Danes allocate it generously to everything commonplace, as you will surely find out on your visit to Denmark. </p>

<p dir="ltr">If you plan on visiting <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/summer/summer-denmark">Denmark during the summer months </a>don’t despair. Hygge is something that happens all year round. Picnics in the park, barbeques with friends, outdoor concerts, street festivals and <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/cycling">bike rides </a>can all be very hygge, especially when done the Danish way. If you're unsure where and how to begin your hygge adventure, the ultimate <a dir="ltr" href="https://copenhagenbymie.com/tours/hygge-happiness" rel="noopener" title="Hygge and Happiness Tour ">hygge and happiness tour </a> can get you started. It will undoubtedly show you how to find your own happy hygge place. You can also hygge on a <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/explore/goboat-gdk1090148">GoBoat </a>(below), one of Denmark's solar-powered self-drive boats. We're not going to tell you where to hygge. Only that you should do it! </p>

<p dir="ltr">The high season of hygge is <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/things-do/christmas">Christmas </a>. Danes lead a secular lifestyle but when it comes to religious holidays, they pull out the stops. Danish winters are known to be long and dark, and so the Danes fight the darkness with their best weapon: hygge, and the millions of candles that go with it. If you have ever been to <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/explore/christmas-tivoli-gardens-gdk1096403" rel="noopener">Tivoli Gardens </a>or walked the streets of Copenhagen during the festive season, you have an idea of what Danes can do with lighting, mulled wine (known as gløgg for the locals), blankets and oversize scarves. If you haven’t maybe it’s time you try. </p>

<p>Let's add a little more hygge into your life... </p>

What is 'Hygge'?

What does "hygge" mean?

The high season of hygge

TOVEMAREN STAKKESTAD

Iustina Tutuianu's ideas are part of this journey:

Related collections

Similar ideas