Status: Working
Type: Borrowed / translated from Danish
One-sentence definition
Arbejdsglæde: The joy or happiness a person feels in doing their work.[1]
Why the term is useful
English often treats “work” and “happiness” as separate subjects. Arbejdsglæde puts them in one word, making joy in work something that can be noticed, discussed, designed for, and protected.
Origin / coined by
A Danish compound of arbejde (work) and glæde (joy or happiness). Den Danske Ordbog defines it as the joy one feels when carrying out one’s work.[1]
Example
A team has demanding work and occasional bad days, but people still look forward to contributing because the work feels worthwhile, relationships are good, and their abilities are being used.
- Töörõõm
- Meaningful work
- Workplace wellbeing
Sources and notes
A useful distinction to explore: töörõõm can emphasize joy arising from the work itself, while arbejdsglæde can open a broader discussion of happiness in one’s working life.
Working concept · evolving in public