What Is Hygge? The Danish Art of Cozy Winter Living
Feeling the chill and blues of the season? A dose of the Scandinavian practice of hygge may be in order. But what is it, and how do you pronounce it? We have the answers!
Quick Reference: What Is Hygge?
- What it is: a Danish idea of cozy, contented, everyday living, especially through long, dark winters.
- How to say it: “hoo-geh,” with a soft second syllable. Not “higgy” or “hoo-gee.”
- Where it comes from: an old Norwegian word, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console.” The closest English word is “hug.”
- How to start: light a candle, brew a hot drink, pull up a blanket, put the phone down, and share the moment with someone you love.
Some of the coziest days of the year are the cold, grey ones, when the mornings come late and the evenings come early and you find yourself dreaming of warmer, brighter months. If the chill and the winter blues have set in, a dose of hygge may be exactly what the season calls for. But what is it, how do you say it, and why has a small Danish word traveled so far? We have the answers.
What The Heck is Hygge?
Hygge (pronounced “hoo-geh”) is a Danish idea of taking pleasure in everyday things, simplifying life, and creating coziness in the home. It asks you to savor the good moments and tend to the people you care about while you relax and indulge a little. There is no tidy English translation. The word derives from an old Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” and the nearest English cousin is simply “hug.” It is a mindset that has carried the people of Denmark through long, chilly winters, and Danes rank as one of the happiest people on the planet.
The idea has caught on well beyond Scandinavia. A shelf of books arrived on the topic in recent years, with more reportedly on the way, and in 2016 “hygge” landed on the Oxford Dictionaries shortlist for Word of the Year. Not bad for a word most of us cannot spell on the first try.
How Do You Pronounce Hygge?
Say it “hoo-geh.” The first syllable rhymes with “boo,” and the second is a soft, swallowed sound closer to “guh” than a hard “gee.” It is not “higgy” and it is not “hoo-gee.” If it helps, think of the comfortable little grunt you make when you sink into a favorite chair. That is about the feeling the word is after.
The roots run back to the Norwegian hugga, “to comfort” or “to console,” a relative of the same family of words that gave English “hug.” Danish adopted it as both a noun and a verb, so hygge is something you can have, make, and do. You can spend a hyggelig evening, or you can hygge with friends. For a fuller look at the history and spread of the word, the plain-language entry at Wikipedia traces how a quiet Danish habit became a global shorthand for cozy.
Hygge and the American Winter
If hygge sounds familiar, that is because you have likely been practicing a homegrown version of it for years. Every region has its own cozy traditions, and most of them are hygge by another name.
- A New England snow day with a wood stove ticking and a pot of chowder on the back burner.
- A Midwestern quilt pulled out at the first hard frost, and a jigsaw puzzle left half-finished on the card table.
- A Southern porch in a cold snap, a heavy blanket, and a mug of cocoa while the rain comes down.
- A Northwestern rainy evening with the lamps low, a paperback, and something slow cooking on the stove.
The point is not the snow or the cocoa. The point is slowing down and making the dark months feel warm on purpose. It helps to know what the season has in store, too. Our long-range weather forecast gives you a sense of how cold and how long your winter is likely to run, region by region, so you can plan the cozy nights ahead. And on a clear cold evening, stepping out to catch the winter Wolf Moon or Snow Moon is its own kind of hygge. Our full Moon dates and times tell you exactly when to look up.
10 Hygge Rituals To Bring Into Your Life
You do not need to move to Copenhagen to live a little more hygge. Pick a few of these ten rituals and work them into your winter routine.
1. Lighting: Dim the lights and dig out the candles, and reach for natural beeswax over the scented kind. Proper lighting is at the heart of hygge, and a soft, natural glow makes a room feel warmer and calmer. No candles on hand? Turn off “the big light” overhead and switch on warm-toned lamps or a string of fairy lights instead.
2. Hygge Together: Hygge is best when it is shared with a small, easy group. Studies show that spending quality time with the people we love makes us the happiest, so gather friends and family over a warm cup of coffee, serve a hot meal around the table, bring out the board games, or simply laugh into the wee hours. Conversation, laughter, and the warmth of good company are all part of hygge.
3. Cozy Furnishings: Break out the blankets and pillows, leaning toward soft, natural materials like wool. Build yourself a cozy nook with cushions and throws where you can settle in with a good book. Hygge is all about homeyness, and when you fill a space with pieces that make you happy, you have already made some.
4. Be Comfortable: Think woolly socks, knit sweaters, and warm leggings. Natural fibers are one of the simplest ways to feel warm and snug through a brisk winter. Dig out your softest, warmest garments and get ready to hygge.
5. Eat and Drink Well: Hygge is also about indulging in the good things. For many of us that means comforting, hearty food, a pot of soup or a simple roast chicken. Keep the cooking easy and do it with loved ones. Cakes, pastries, and cookies are hygge through and through, and so are the hot drinks. Mugs of rich hot cocoa, tea, and coffee are all good for warming the soul.
6. Unplug: Hygge is about living in the moment, so turn off the cell phones and the TV. Pick up a book, read the newspaper, share a conversation, put on some music or play a little yourself, paint a picture, or start a game. It is easy to get lost in a screen and lose track of the people right beside you. Give your attention to the ones you love, or to yourself, and stay present.
7. Connect with Nature: As much as hygge lives indoors, Danes embrace every season and still get outside. Hygge is about balance and a healthy life, so time in the open air matters. A walk in the cold leaves you more present and relaxed, not less. Wrap up in a warm scarf, pull on your “wellies,” and get out there, as long as a cup of hot cocoa and a roaring fire are waiting when you come back in.
8. Bring Nature Indoors: There is no shortage of comfort in the natural world, and bringing a little of it inside keeps you connected while you stay snug. Willowy branches, bunches of fresh blooms, a bowl of pinecones, and a neat pile of firewood are all reminders of the world just outside the window. Even those small touches bring a sense of peace and calm to a room.
9. Make a Fire: Few things say coziness like a roaring fire while the temperature drops outside. A good blaze draws people in and settles them, imprinting a sense of calm and peace. A proper hygge fire uses real wood whenever you can manage it.
10. Linger: Savoring the moment is total hygge. Linger after meals, stretch out the good conversations, and let the pace of the day slow down. Pour a cup of coffee, light the candles, snuggle up under a blanket with someone you love, and slow time enough to soak it in. Aim for that easy state of coziness, company, and contentment, and let the season be what it is.
It can be hard to carve out time to get cozy by the fire, but working even a few of these practices into your routine can be good for both your mood and your health.
Hygge Is Not Just for Winter
Winter is where hygge shines, but Danes practice it all year. The trick is to match the coziness to the season instead of fighting the weather.
- Spring hygge: throw open the windows, cut the first blooms for the table, and take your coffee outside as the mornings warm up.
- Summer hygge: long, slow evenings on the porch, a shared meal outdoors, and a fire in the pit once the sun goes down.
- Autumn hygge: the first wool sweater, soup back on the stove, and candles lit a little earlier each night.
- Winter hygge: blankets, hot drinks, a good book, and a fire, the full ten rituals above.
Timing the small pleasures is half the fun. If you like to plan your gatherings and quiet nights by the calendar, our Best Days Calendar is a gentle old-fashioned way to pick a day that feels right. And keeping a few natural remedies and simple household tricks on hand, like the ones in our guide to the many powers of vinegar, is its own quiet form of hygge.
What Is Hygge: Frequently Asked Questions
What is hygge, in plain English?
Hygge is a Danish idea of cozy, contented, everyday living. It means taking pleasure in simple things, simplifying life, and creating warmth and comfort at home, especially through long, dark winters. There is no exact English translation, and the closest single word is “hug.”
How do you pronounce hygge?
Say it “hoo-geh.” The first syllable rhymes with “boo,” and the second is a soft “guh” rather than a hard “gee.” It is not “higgy” and it is not “hoo-gee.”
Where does the word hygge come from?
The word derives from an old Norwegian term, hugga, meaning “to comfort” or “to console,” and it is related to the same family of words that gave English “hug.” Danish uses it as both a noun and a verb, so you can have hygge, make hygge, and hygge with friends.
How do I start practicing hygge at home?
Start small tonight. Light a candle, brew a hot drink, pull a wool blanket over your lap, put the phone down, and share the moment with someone you love. Pick a few of the ten rituals above and build them into your winter routine rather than trying to do everything at once.
Is hygge only for winter?
No. Winter is where hygge shines, but Danes practice it all year. The idea is to match the coziness to the season, from open windows and cut flowers in spring to long porch evenings in summer and the first wool sweaters of autumn.
Why did hygge become so popular?
The idea spread as a wave of books introduced it to the wider world, and in 2016 “hygge” made the Oxford Dictionaries shortlist for Word of the Year. It struck a chord because it offers a simple, screen-free way to feel better through the dark months, and Denmark, where hygge is a way of life, ranks among the happiest countries on earth.
Natalie LaVolpe
Natalie LaVolpe is a freelance writer and former special education teacher. She is dedicated to healthy living through body and mind. She currently resides on Long Island, New York, with her husband, children, and dog.
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
- Natalie LaVolpe
Even if you do not have the facility to have a fire, just viewing a welcoming hearth can be fun. Try Rumford.com Someone once said ” I would rather live in the yard than to live in a house that did not have a fireplace.”
Loved his article! Thank you for bringing us the understanding of the meaning of the “Hygge”…
Glad you enjoyed it, Sylvia!
So, where are the Danish butter cookies?
One of my hygge is porch sitting ,snuggled in a plush warm oversized robe, with a warm cup of coffee or cocoa. Watching and listening to the cool breeze blowing by while the birds sing and the squirrels collect nuts and chase one another around the trees. Nature is such a hygge thing!
I had not heard of hygge until just a few days ago, and yet when I read this article: It is ME. This is how I live, naturally. I am less caring about a so-called perfect home (tidiness, etc) than the FEEL of the home, the way it makes me and others feel. Whenever my children and grandchildren come to my house, no matter how bad it looks (messy, etc) they always comment that the moment they walk through my door (no matter where or how I live or what season) they feel instantly cozy, loved, hungry, sleepy, peaceful, happy. And then I read this article, and yes, these ideas that advance hygge are key. I am 69 (this month), live in US, but this article makes me want to be in a Norwegian country! HOME IS WHERE THE HIGGE IS.
Love a warm & welcoming home. The home really is your sanctuary. Scent, lighting, comfort, dog on the lap, simple food & drink always ready, music, decor……..I could go on & on. Always like to go out, but love to come home ?
Hygge is the perfect “medicine” not only for the winter months, but at this time with all that is happening around us. For our sanity, we should “take” this medicine as often as possible while dealing with the world! Thank you!
COPPER, TERRA COTTA, BEIGE, GREIGE, WINTER/WARM WHITE, THE COLOURS OF HYGGE,,,FURRY RUGS AND PILLOWS LIKE FLOKATI…CANDLES…