Definition of

Cozy

Courtesy

A welcoming individual is kind.

Cozy is that or that which welcomes , according to the first meaning of this adjective mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The verb welcome, for its part, refers to shelter, protect or receive with affection .

For example: “Thank you very much, I had a wonderful night: you have been very welcoming hosts” , “When we arrived we stayed in an old but cozy hotel” , “It is a welcoming town, with supportive inhabitants” .

A welcoming individual

A welcoming person is kind, pleasant to deal with . These individuals are characterized by being affectionate and caring about the well-being of others.

A man, upon finding out that his neighbor is going through a bad time emotionally, invites him to his house to watch a movie and then proposes to stay for dinner so they can continue talking. Throughout the evening, he shows interest in his neighbor's problems and tries to help him make him feel better. It can be said, in this way, that he is a welcoming subject.

Warmth

Cozy places are warm and comfortable.

The comfort and warmth of a place

When the adjective is applied to a place , it is linked to the comfort it provides and its setting . Generally, spaces that are classified as welcoming are those that provide warmth and make people feel comfortable and calm.

A restaurant that has few tables, uses candles for lighting, and plays low-volume jazz in the room could be described as cozy. On the other hand, a massive restaurant, full of screaming people and loud music, will never be mentioned as welcoming due to its characteristics.

The adjective cozy and subjectivity

In any case, we must not forget that the term cozy has a subjective meaning, which is why not all people interpret it in the same way. This does not mean, on the other hand, that certain conventions do not exist, such as those mentioned in the previous paragraphs; However, since each individual can understand comfort and warmth in their own way , a place that is welcoming to some may be unpleasant to others.

A nuance worth highlighting in this concept is the openness on an emotional level that is needed on the side of the person who receives the attention and comforts of a welcoming place or individual. In other words, if we are not receptive, we will not be able to appreciate the aforementioned characteristics, since the idea of ​​welcoming only makes sense when this fusion between the two parts takes place.

On the other hand, a cozy place usually requires a certain dedication to maintain its condition over time. Let's take the case of a house considered cozy due to the warmth of its colors, the comfort offered by its armchairs and the perfect temperature balance it achieves throughout the four seasons; If its owners stopped cleaning and organizing it, or if they no longer heated it adequately in winter, for example, it would no longer be classified as cozy.

Regarding the use of this term to refer to people, it is also possible to point out that a group of people is welcoming, that the atmosphere perceptible in a given meeting is welcoming. This can occur, for example, when someone changes jobs or study centers, if they find a space in which their presence is welcome and they feel that they can be comfortable there.

Returning to the importance of openness on an emotional level, no matter how hard a group of people tries to warmly and kindly welcome a new co-worker or classmate, if they are not receptive, either due to shyness or other problems. that prevent him from dealing freely with others, he will not appreciate welcoming treatment, and might even consider it hostile.