thuisgevoelachtige

Thuisgevoelachtige is a Dutch adjective used to describe something that evokes a sense of being at home. It is a relatively new coinage formed from the noun thuisgevoel, meaning a feeling of home or belonging, and the suffix -achtig, which creates adjectives meaning "like" or "resembling." The word is typically placed before a noun, for example in phrases such as een thuisgevoelachtige sfeer (a homey, familiar atmosphere) or een thuisgevoelachtige inrichting (a home-feeling interior).

The term emphasizes warmth, intimacy, and emotional safety, and it often signals a quality that goes beyond simple coziness. It is commonly found in design criticism, branding, interior design journalism, and marketing when spaces, products, or media aim to evoke nostalgia or reassurance. While generally positive, its use can also imply nostalgia-driven or somewhat curated sentiment in certain contexts.

Etymology and morphology: thuisgevoel combines thuis (home) and gevoel (feeling), with -achtig functioning as a derivational suffix to yield an adjective meaning “like a home-feeling.” The form thuisgevoelachtige follows standard Dutch spelling for adjectives formed with -achtig.

Relation to other terms: Compared with knus (cosy) or huiselijk (domestic, homely), thuisgevoelachtige foregrounds the experiential, emotional resonance of “home,” rather than merely physical comfort or domestic appearance. It remains a stylistic, context-dependent descriptor in contemporary Dutch.