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German Word of the Day: Die Gemütlichkeit

It’s snowing outside and you’re curled up inside with a hot chocolate, a good book and your slippers on. Very gemütlich.

German Word of the Day: Die Gemütlichkeit

Or it’s the middle of summer and you’re sitting, laughing in a beer garden with your pals. Or your sitting in your favourite coffee shop, catching up with your best friend whom you haven’t seen in too long.

In the winter, it’s often used to describe Germany’s ample Christmas markets and the sensation that one receives when browsing booths selling artisanal crafts or Glühwein.

Gemütlichkeit is arguably one of the most famous German concepts. The word encompasses sensations of coziness, contentment and warmth. The term can also be extended to refer to the sense of social acceptance and well-being.

Although it’s a very German term, Gemütlichkeit has transcended its linguistic roots and can be used in English.

It has a broader meaning than English terms such as cozy, or comfortable, which makes it the perfect word to describe that sensation of warmth and well-being.

Examples:

Dieses Café gefällt mir nicht, da es an Gemütlichkeit mangelt.

I don’t like this cafe because it’s not very cozy.

Es ist sehr emütlichkeit

Ich fühle mich sehr gemütlich, wenn ich im Winter Gluehwein im Weihnachtsmarkt trinke.

I feel very warm and pleasant when I drink wine at a Christmas market in the winter.

Do you have a favourite word you’d like to see us cover? If so, please email our editor Rachel Stern with your suggestion.

 

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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Dudelsack

This hilarious sounding German word describes something quintessentially Scottish.

German word of the day: Dudelsack

Why do I need to know Dudelsack?

In the run-up to the German v Scotland opening match of Euro 2024, there were a lot of these gracing the streets of Munich. More importantly, why wouldn’t you want to know a word like Dudelsack?

Just say the word aloud and it will brighten your day. 

What does it mean?

Dudelsack (pronounced like this) is one of those German words that’s both charmingly literal and somewhat onomatopoeic, describing a big bag or sack that makes a ‘doodling’ kind of noise: in other words, the bagpipes.

As well as sounding like the noise this traditional Scottish instrument makes, dudeln also translates as ‘to drone’, and anyone who’s heard the bagpipes will know that this is also a fairly accurate description of how they sound. 

READ ALSO: 10 German words with hilarious literal translations

As Scotland geared up to play Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich, many sacks were doodled in the Bavarian capital. 

Seeing parades of kilts and hearing the distinctive wail of the Dudelsack against the backdrop of Munich’s gothic town hall isn’t something you experience every day, and we’re sure it’s an experience the people of Munich also won’t forget for a while. 

Use it like this: 

Hör mal auf, Dudelsack zu spielen! Es geht mir auf die Nerven.

Stop playing the bagpipes! It’s getting on my nerves.  

Weißt du, wie der Dudelsack klingt? Man hört ihn überall in Schottland.

Do you know what the bagpipes sound like? You can hear them everywhere in Scotland. 

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