Cosy Names a Feeling the Danes Made Famous
Cosy means warm and comfortable. English borrowed the word from Scots and the idea travels well.
Cosy means warm, comfortable and sheltered, especially in a small enclosed way. The word first appears in Scots in the 1700s and its earlier history is unknown, though a Scandinavian source is often suggested. That fits the company it keeps: Danish *hygge* and Dutch *gezelligheid* name the same idea, and English speakers borrowing *hygge* were reaching for a word they already had. Americans spell it *cozy*; a *tea cosy* keeps a pot warm.
- Warm and comfortable. *A cosy room.*
- Intimate. *A cosy chat.*
- Too close for comfort. *A cosy arrangement.*
- A tea cosy. *A tea cosy.*
- Scots — from the 1700s. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | cosy | Cosy. |
| American | cozy | Cozy. |
| Adverb | cosily | Cosily. |
| Noun | cosiness | Cosiness. |
| Compound | tea cosy | A tea cosy. |
- The cottage was small and cosy.Comfort.
- They had a cosy chat.Intimacy.
- A cosy deal raised eyebrows.Suspicion.
Words for the same feeling
- Hygge — Danish, warmth and contentment shared with others
- Gezelligheid — Dutch, sociable comfort
- Gemütlichkeit — German, warm friendliness and ease
- Mysa — Swedish, to settle in somewhere snug
- All northern, which is not a coincidence
First recorded in Scots in the 1700s, of unknown origin, possibly Scandinavian.
Is cosy or cozy correct?
Both. Cosy is standard in British English and cozy in American English.
Is cosy the same as hygge?
Very close. Hygge adds an emphasis on shared warmth and companionship, but the core feeling is the same.