A question for natives of Germany
 

How do you interpret "Gemütlichkeit" to those from other places?

I'm taking a German language course and we all get to do presentations on German culture, and that's my topic. I sort of understand the Dutch way of interpreting gezelligheid, but wonder how different it might be in Germany? And if it is consistent in different parts of Germany?

Dutch is, more or less, German from the middle ages and then grown along a different path. The two words have the same meaning.

Why would you think that a standard German word would have different meaning in different parts of Germany? There are several dialects in German and the word may well be different in these dialects, but the meaning will almost certainly be the same.

Not according to quite a few folks I've talked to who insist the Germans and the Dutch do things differently.

I didn't ask for the dictionary meaning, I asked for a personal/cultural interpretation of the concept. My great-grandparents from southern Germany had very different cultural traditions than the ones from northern Germany - one of the things stressed by my professor is how culturally different the various regions of Germany are because the area we now call "Germany" has historically been a group of smaller states with political/cultural ties of varying strengths. Does a Bavarian celebrate the same way as a Bohemian and a Hanovarian(sp?)?

I'm Dutch with German parents. I'm not sure what you mean by "the Germans and the Dutch do things differently."

It seems to me you are assuming because the cultures have differences that the languages do as well. As I originally wrote, local/cultural language is often a dialect. The words may be different, but the meaning is usually the same. Otherwise, what's the point of languages?

The history of Germany is very similar to the history of most other European countries with one difference: many of those other countries became nations before Germany did. Germany did not become a single nation until 1871. However, like most other European countries, regional differences remain, as well as local dialects.

Gemütlich and gezellig mean essentially the same thing, just as laufen and lopen mean the same thing or gehen and gaan do. And those words have the same meanings throughout the countries where they are used. Have you ever heard of Hochdeutsch?

I´m not sure if gemütlich and gezellig means the same. Gesellig (in German) means, that you are together with other people in a pleasant way. Gemütlich has a main definition, but means something different for everyone. First it means something is comfortable for you, you simple like it. For example a warm place with a soft sofo or something like that. If you say someone is gemütlich it can mean, the he is relxed. That´s the positive way. It can also mean, that he is slow or uninterested, that´s the negative way.

If you show people pictures from places and ask if it is gemütlich, you will get very different answers.

As a Dutch and German speaker, I would say that gemütlich and gezellig do mean the same thing. At least, when speaking to people in Dutch or German the meaning is quite clear and both words are used in the same way, usually in the context of a place. However, gezellig in Dutch also has the same meaning as gesellig in German when speaking about a person.

Showing people photos and asking if the place looks gemütlich or gezellig really seems more a question of personal taste. For example, I like the simple wood interiors of Bavarian country pubs, but, at home, I like something softer and darker.

While there might be regional differences, I do think it mostly comes down to personal taste. Some people's 'gemütlich' is my 'kitschig' or 'überfüllt', some think a 'gemütliche Gruppe' is 15 people, other think it's 3, etc.

Dutch and German are close enough for me as a German to easily understand writen texts in Dutch. To understand the spoken language takes a little more concentration, but still is possible.

To also answer the OP's question: I would would use gemütlich pretty much the same way cozy is used in English.

When I learned how to pronounce Dutch alphabet pairings, it was then very easy for me to understand the language. Huis (nl) doesn't look like it sounds just like Haus (de). Nor does druiven (nl) and Trauben (de). But they do sound almost identical.

I had a Dutch boyfriend a while back. And we would sometimes go to his sister's family house for dinner. They didn't speak English. And we communicated by me speaking in German and they in Dutch. It wasn't perfect. And sometimes my boyfriend would have to interpret. But it worked.

"German Gemütlichkeit" is a stereotype among overseas visitors, especially Americans, that most Germans consider a bit of a laugh.

"Gemütlich" is a term that no German would attribute to, for example, a beer hall or an Oktoberfest tent. It means quiet, cosy surroundings where one feels relaxed, at ease, "at home". Think a cuddly sofa you never want to rise from, candles on the table, a good wine in your glass, the cat purring in your lap, friendly company to talk to... that's what we'd call "gemütlich".

Quite so. What I think most of them miss is the social part of the word. I think it's a bit like describing hurricane as a lot of rain.

I think that explanation is spot on. Gemütlicher Abend for me would mean on a cold night staying at home on the sofa, having a cup of tea or a glass of wine, lighting a candle and maybe watching a DVD. Going to a crowded place would be the opposite of gemütlich.

Sorry, but I think you're still missing it. Both the German and Dutch versions have, as I wrote above, a social aspect to them. Staying by yourself either at home or at a pub is neither gemütlich or gezellig. Doing it with some friends (even new ones) is (or can be).

For very good reason there is no translation of gemütlichkeit....