This falls under the (large) category of “Huh? Who Knew?” Here’s an item from The New Yorker: Among the finalists for the Oxford Dictionaries’ “word of the year” was “hygge.”
Say what? The mag says it's "a Danish term defined as 'a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.' Pronounced 'hoo-guh,' the word is said to have no direct translation in English, though 'cozy' comes close. It derives from a 16th-century Norwegian term, hugga, meaning 'to comfort' or 'to console,' which is related to the English word 'hug.' Associated with relaxation, indulgence, and gratitude, hygge has long been considered a part of the Danish national character. In a 1957 'Letter from Copenhagen' in The New Yorker, the writer Robert Shaplen reported that hygge was 'ubiquitous' in the city: 'The sidewalks are filled with smiling, hyggelige people, who keep lifting their hats to each other and who look at a stranger with an expression that indicates they wish they knew him well enough to lift their hats to him, too.'"
OK, I’ve done my part. The rest is up to you. Once you’re comfy, email me at rrollins@coxohio.com.
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