Hygge

What Hygge Actually Means

Hygge (pronounced HOO-gah) is a Danish word often translated as "coziness," but that misses half of it. In Danish usage, hygge is the feeling of a warm, low-lit, unhurried moment: candles burning, a blanket across your lap, coffee or tea, good company or a good book. It's the atmosphere of a long winter evening without any pressure to be anywhere else.

Denmark consistently ranks among the world's happiest countries, and hygge is one of the ways Danes explain why. The word itself isn't buyable — hygge is something you arrange, not something you purchase — but the atmosphere has a supporting cast: candles (Danes burn more per capita than any other nation), wool (socks, throws, blankets), warm drinks (coffee, tea, gløgg in winter), licorice and chocolate, and, as it turns out, books about hygge itself.

The Hygge Bookshelf

Meik Wiking is the founder and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen (established 2013). He introduced hygge to the English-speaking world with The Little Book of Hygge, which has sold over a million copies. Two of his books are on this shelf:

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living — the definitive guide. Fourteen chapters on light, togetherness, food, clothing, home, and hygge outside the home.

My Hygge Home — Wiking's follow-up, focused on building a home that invites hygge rituals.

Other hygge titles — The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Contentment, Comfort and Connection (anthology), Hygge Simplified (practical guide), Scandinavian Guide to Happiness (fika + lagom + hygge + more), ScandiKitchen: The Essence of Hygge by Brontë Aurell (hygge via food).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce "hygge"?

HOO-gah. Short "oo" as in "book," emphasis on the first syllable, soft "h." Danes are forgiving about the pronunciation; Americans get it wrong constantly and it's fine.

What's the difference between hygge, fika, and lagom?

Hygge (Danish) is cozy contentment. Fika (Swedish) is a daily coffee break with something sweet, usually shared. Lagom (Swedish) is "just the right amount" — moderation.

Who is Meik Wiking?

Meik Wiking is the founder and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, established in 2013. He is the author of The Little Book of Hygge, The Little Book of Lykke, and several follow-up titles on Danish well-being.

Is hygge only a winter thing?

It's strongest in winter (long dark evenings naturally produce hygge conditions), but Danes apply it year-round. Summer hygge is picnics on long northern days.