Gemütlichkeit

Gemütlichkeit - An Explanation

What is Gemütlichkeit, and why did I decide to name my blog this?

For starters, it’s one of my favorite words in German, and it’s basically untranslatable because it carries so much emotion and meaning in just a few syllables. A basic dictionary definition will say something about “comfort” or a “coziness,” but that is like defining the ocean as “a large body of water.”

I was completing my college internship in Western Germany one summer and I heard Gemütlichkeit used in conversation, and it instantly changed the meaning of the story for everyone listening. Having to know everything that was happening, I asked a friend to explain. She used such beautiful and elaborate illustrations, I could never do it justice, so I will give you a brief account:

Just last month, I was having dinner with some of my closest friends. We have a very close, trusting friendship. We don’t all get together as often as we would like, but when we do, it’s a beautiful experience. We had dinner together —having dinner together is an important part of Gemütlichkeit— and we talked about everything. Not those shallow conversations you hear amongst acquaintances. No, beautiful, rich conversation about subjects that actually matter. Conversations that actually make you grow. After the meal is finished, we light candles, pour wine, and continue. We do not care about agreeing with politics or religion. No matter what, we all belong to each other.

Gemütlichkeit is that warm sensation you feel growing out of your soul when you partake in experiences like this. When you indulge in conversation and community. When you know you belong with who you are with. Everything about it is beautiful.

So, after much thought, I decided to name my blog after this word. This feeling. This experience. We’ve started a great adventure: reading all the Great Books. We will be indulging in great, enriching, beautiful literature, and sharing the experience together.

When an experience is shared, it becomes that much more significant.