Homepage / Blog / Danish hygge

Danish hygge

So apparently Danish hygge is trending outside Denmark. Let people more knowledgeable than us promote the concept internationally. From us you’ll just get the usual crash course on how to use the word 'hygge'.

How to hygge in Danish

Hygge is an important and well-used word in Danish. Denmark can be dark, cold and dreary up to six months a year and it rains often. To survive the Danish weather, hygge is a vital part of life in Denmark.

We’re not going do an in-depth analyses of Danish hygge. Instead, we’ll list our definition as well as a few words and equipment that can all be part of the concept.

Definition of hygge in 50 words or less

  • Practise hygge all by your lonesome or in the company of friends/family.
  • Hygge can take place indoors or outdoors – in the summer or the winter
  • Hygge can be a cup of tea in the comfort of your home or a glass of wine with friends in town

Common hygge equipment

Hygge on your own: books, candles, warm socks, a blanket, hot tea or chocolate, sweets or biscuits

Hygge in company: candles, wine, beer, good food, board games, great conversations, live music, bonfire, barbecue

You can use some of the equipment or all of the above. The important part is that it's low-key and that you are comfortable and relaxed.

Want to learn more Danish?

We offer Danish courses from beginner to advanced level. Located in the heart of Copenhagen and with more than 25 years of experience in teaching Danish, we are a popular choice among expats.

Learn More

How to use the Danish word 'hygge'

We have collected a few words and phrases Danes use to describe hygge:

Hyggestund ... [Cosy time/hour] A hyggestund is a cosy time on your own or with friends. Maybe you have an hour to yourself with a good book or perhaps you are enjoying a cup of tea or a glass of with friends.
Mormor hygger om os ... [Granny cosies around us] When someone 'hygger om' you they spoil you or make you feel comfortable.
Uhyggelig ... [Un-cosy] Uhyggelig actually means the complete opposite of hygge. 'Uhyggelig' is the Danish word for scary, spooky and bloodcurdling.
Råhygge ... [Raw cosiness] When someone 'råhygger' i Denmark, they completely chill out. The expression means extremely cosy and is used to describe chilling with friends or being in complete chill mode.
Vi skal rigtig hygge ... [We'll really cosy] Danes say this when they want to express anticipation for a planned hyggestund (cozy hour).
Tak for en hyggelig aften ... [Thank you for a cosy evening] If you want to say thank you for a lovely time to a Dane, thanking them for a 'hyggelig' evening or weekend will be popular.
Det lyder hyggeligt ... [That sounds cosy] If it sounds like something you would enjoy, you can say 'det lyder hyggeligt'.
 Hyggekrog ... [Cosy nook] Meaning a small place dedicated to cosiness. A perfect 'hyggekrog' can be in the corner of your livingroom with your favourite chair.
En hyggelig fætter ... [A cosy cousin] This means a pleasant and friendly guy in Danish.
Hvor bor I hyggeligt ... [You live very cosily] When invited to a Danes home for the first time, saying that they live very cosily is a great compliment.
Hyggesnak ... [Cosy chat] A 'hyggesnak' is a lovely chit chat with no politic, religion or money topics.
Hyg dig! ... [Cosy yourself / Have a cosy time!] This expression is used to wish someone a great time. Instead of saying 'enjoy yourself', A Dane will say cosy yourself.

Find a Danish course to suit your lifestyle: Click here

Expressions with hygge
Copenhagen Language Center

Comments

Join the discussion

  • Karen Moores

    Help, this doesn’t help me pronounce the words correctly!

    Answer
    1. Camilla Svane

      Hi Karen, You should be able to hear the pronunciation, if you click the blue icons under the title ‘How to use the Danish word ‘hygge” 🙂

      Kind regards
      Camilla, Kbh Sprogcenter

      Answer
  • Tina Hindsbo

    Hej – kan man købe plakaten? Og hvor? Mvh Tina Hindsbo

    Answer
    1. Camilla Svane

      Hej Tina,

      Desværre har vi ikke fået lavet vores hyggeopslag som plakat. Vi har dog en pdf, som du selv kan printe 🙂

      Bedste hilsner
      Camilla, Kbh Sprogcenter

      Answer
      1. Lone

        Hej Camilla, er det muligt at få fingre i nogle SF jrres jeres Pdf. Jeg ville vildt gerne have fat i, især den med hygge.
        Mvh Lone

        Answer
        1. Camilla Svane

          Kære Lone,

          Du er simpelthen ‘smuttet i farten’ og jeg beklager meget, at jeg har overset din kommentar.

          Der er nogle pdf’er med opslag på vej til dig via e-mail.

          De bedste hilsner
          Camilla, Kbh Sprogcenter

          Answer
  • Alexander Benckendorff

    ENGLISH
    The main ingredients of hygge (and these are essential and vital elements):
    1. Relaxed atmosphere
    2. Feeling of well-being
    3. Intimacy of family, a circle of friends, dinner party, etc, etc
    4. If in company, glad for that company.
    5. Humour
    6. No unpleasantness
    All this, encapsulated in one word: HYGGE!!

    Hygge can also be used in a slightly risqué way as well.
    This is a true story.
    I have a pal, who had a lovely girlfriend and one day their neighbour from upside, an elderly lady, spoke to them about the “very loud noises coming from your apartment, when you are…….. ‘enjoying’ each other’s company”.
    The girlfriend answered cheekily “Yes! And that’s a human right!”
    In Danish: “I larmer rigtigt meget, når I…..hygger jer”

    DANSK
    Hoved ingredienser af hygge (og de er væsentlige og vigtige elementer)

    1.Afslappet stemning
    2. Velværdsfornemmelse
    3. Nærhedsfølelser for familien, vennekreds, når man er til spisning, osv., osv.
    4. Hvis man er i selskab, glæden for dette selskab
    5. Humor
    6. Ingen ubehageligheder
    Alt det, svøbt i et ord: HYGGE!!

    Hygge kan også bruges i en fræk sammenhæng.
    Det et en sand historie
    Jeg har en ven, der havde en søde kæreste og en dag kom deres overbo, en ældre dame, og snakkede med dem ”om de høje lyd, der kommer fra deres lejlighed, når…….I hygger jer”
    Kærersten svarede, lidt kækt ”Ja! Og det er en menneskeret!”

    Answer
  • Laila Erlandsen

    Rigtig dejlig og sjov FB side. nyder den .
    Ved ikke om I har set et foto fra et bageri i NY der siger
    ” der ligger håndværkere og grovboller i vinduet” ! Sikkert kun en tanketorsk!
    Jeg har snakket dansk med mine børn her i Australien og har hurtigt Funder ud af at nr. 6 skal ikke siges på dansk. Folk kigger og forståeligt nok tænker sit. Men det er endnu et udtryk på Dansk der meget nemt bliver misforstået . Snakker vi Dansk så siger vi nu ” six” på engelsk.
    Har i udgivet en bog eller hæfte med disse pragtfulde tegninger og forklaringer. Skøn gave ide at kunne købe.

    Med venlig hilsen
    Laila

    Answer
    1. Camilla Svane

      Kære Laila,

      Tusind tak for din hilsen og for Indblik i, hvordan det danske sprog kan ‘drille’ i et engelsktalende land. Vi har snakket om at udgive en e-bog, men er endnu ikke kommet længere desværre. Indtil videre er vores eneste udgivelse vores plakat med det danske ord NÅ.

      http://www.nordicmade.dk/shop/naa-plakat-koebenhavns-10446p.html

      Vi håber, at der med tiden kommer mere 🙂

      De bedste hilsner

      Camilla, Kbh Sprogcenter

      Answer
  • Moayyed

    Mange tak for fantastisk side , men I skal lave mere post om danske sprog , fordi vi skal mere dansk
    Tusind tak igen

    Answer
    1. Camilla Svane

      Hej Moayyed,

      Tusind tak for roserne. Vi skal nok prøve at lave flere posts 🙂

      Answer

Write comment

Related posts

Maybe you'll also like

Danish idioms and sayings

Danish idioms and sayings

7 Jun. 2016

We have a lot of weird sayings in Danish. For instance, do you know what 'no cow on the ice' means? Or what about 'to go cucumber'? Get the answers in this article.
King carrot and other Danish sayings

Danish idioms part II

25 Jan. 2017

Find out the meanings of idioms and common sayings in Danish such as King Carrot, Shoot the parrot and much more.
Mild Danish insults

Mild Danish insults

28 Oct. 2016

Danish insults and swear words - suddenly there is no limit to our students' vocabulary. Most of them though are not fit for this page. Here's a few mild insults in Danish for some light-hearted / pg-rated name calling.