hygge

1 of 2

noun

hyg·​ge ˈhyü-gə  ˈhü-  ˈhu̇- 

: a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable

During the long, dark winters when Danes retreat inside their homes, hygge is what brings them a great sense of comfort and joy.

—Mary Holland

"I believe now—in the midst of this pandemic—is the perfect time for people to embody hygge by focusing on the present moment, spending quality time with people who make them happy, and ultimately finding peace," [Christine] Christensen said in an email.

—Courtney Kueppers

And after the recent trend of cozy, comforting hygge, there's another Scandinavian state of mind to embrace.

—Leanne Italie

hygge

2 of 2

adjective

: invoking or fostering a sense of coziness, contentment, and well-being

… a hygge Christmas dinner setting needs only essential tableware, beloved family ornaments and a few tasteful sprigs of greenery.

—Francesca Brown

To live the hygge way, focus on friendship, wholesomeness, and happiness.

—Hannah Bruneman

"… people are at home all the time. People will realize cozy is better than stark. It's all about the hygge trend."

—Jonathan Adler

Examples of hygge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Inspired by Viking lodges and decked out with cozy fireplaces, each room oozes with hygge. —Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

Originating in Denmark, hygge is all about living comfortably and encouraging feelings of coziness. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Aug. 2023

Embrace your inner hygge and cozy up outside with this mix of ultra-packable, super comfy, kid and couple-friendly, and reliably warm camping blankets—designed for all kinds of adventure. —Erica Zazo, Popular Mechanics, 31 July 2023

Check out our favorite cozy hygge finds below—and start shopping now! —Samantha Driscoll, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2021

To add some hygge to your home, try lighting candles, pulling out a fuzzy throw blanket, hanging twinkly lights and baking a treat that will fill the air with spice. —Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 19 Nov. 2020

Many Americans only became aware of the Danish concept of hygge within the past few years. —Rachel King, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2021

What are your go-to methods for enjoying hygge? —Rachel King, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2021

Make your home a little hygge. —Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 19 Nov. 2020

Adjective

For the hygge enthusiast Few materials feel quite as luxurious as cashmere, and having the indulgently soft fabric encase your feet feels like a real treat. —Sarah Grossbart, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023

From mini portable fireplaces to weighted blankets and crochet beanies, here’s what to wrap up and give to the hygge obsessives in your life. —Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

Owner Janni Fenn, who runs the farm with her husband, Alex, showed me to my apartment — a sunlit second-floor space, its kitchen stocked with coffee, local butter, and chocolate milk that made for a hygge haven at the end of an exhilarating day. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2023

The hygge trend comes in third with 2,054,211 posts. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Aug. 2023

Warm neutrals and rich earth tones are a top 2021 color trend that embodies those hygge characteristics. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023

All guests also have access to the hotel's wood barrel saunas for some bonus hygge vibes. 15 KitFox, New Mexico Want to get even farther away from society? —Claire Trageser, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2023

Best Hygge Gift: Care Package Unboxme Gifts Cozy Care Package Unboxme Gifts Cozy Care Package Now 10% Off $36 at Amazon This box full of hygge essentials—from tea and a candle to a minimalist house plant—is exactly what your sis (and, tbh, everyone) needs to feel warm and fuzzy after a long day. —Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 20 Mar. 2023

This egg chair will be the perfect addition to an organic or hygge-inspired style. —Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Danish, "comfort, coziness," borrowed from Norwegian hygge (Bokmål), hyggje (Nynorsk), probably noun derivative of hygge (Bokmål), hyggje (Nynorsk) "to make comfortable," also regionally "to notice, understand, take care of, be fond of," going back to an Old Norwegian equivalent of Old Icelandic hyggja "to think, believe," going back to Germanic *hugjan- (whence also Old English hycgan "to think, meditate, consider," Old Frisian hugia "to be recalled," Old Saxon huggian "to think [of], be mindful of, consider, plan," Old High German huggen "to think, have in mind, be mindful of," Gothic hugjan "to be of a [specified] state of mind"), noun derivative of *hugi- "mind" (whence Old English hyge "mind, thought, intention," Old Frisian hei "mind," Old Saxon hugi "thought, mind, intention," Old High German hugu "mind, understanding," Old Norse hugr "mind, heart, wish," Gothic hugs "mind"), of uncertain origin

Adjective

from attributive use of hygge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1960, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1963, in the meaning defined above