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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

cosy

KOH-zee

Cosy (adj) means Warm, snug, and comfortable. Example: “They spent the evening curled up by the fire in a cosy cabin.”

adj
1
Warm, snug, and comfortable.
"They spent the evening curled up by the fire in a cosy cabin."
"The café had a cosy atmosphere with soft lighting and armchairs."
noun
1
A padded cover used to keep something warm, such as a teapot.
"She knitted a tea cosy to match the kitchen curtains."

How to use cosy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWarm and comfortable, in a homely, relaxed way.

UK vs US

This is the standard British spelling; American English generally uses "cozy."

Common pairings
cosy fire cosy atmosphere tea cosy

Word forms

cosier comparative, cosied past tense, cosies plural, cosies singular, cosiest superlative

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Test yourself on “cosy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent the evening curled up by the fire in a _____ cabin.

Etymology

From Scots cosie, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Norwegian kose seg, "to have a cosy time."

Origin: Norwegian

cozy tea cosy tea cozy

Related words

Rhymes for cosy

See all rhymes for cosy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cosy” mean?

The word “cosy” means warm, snug, and comfortable. In plain terms, warm and comfortable, in a homely, relaxed way.

How do you pronounce “cosy”?

“Cosy” is pronounced KOH-zee (/ˈkoʊzi/ in IPA).

How do you use “cosy” in a sentence?

Here is “cosy” used in a sentence: “They spent the evening curled up by the fire in a cosy cabin.”

What part of speech is “cosy”?

Depending on how it is used, “cosy” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “cosy” come from?

The word “cosy” comes from Norwegian. From Scots cosie, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Norwegian kose seg, "to have a cosy time.".

Is “cosy” a common word?

“Cosy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “cosy” have?

“Cosy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: warm, snug, and comfortable.

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