Arbejdsglæde is a Danish word meaning literally “work gladness/joy”. There are apparently similar words in the other Scandinavian languages, and also in Dutch (arbeidsvreugde) and German (Arbeitszufriedenheit). The closest equivalent I can find in English is job satisfaction, though this doesn’t seem to have quite the same meaning as the Danish one.
I found this word on Alex Kjerulf’s blog, Chief Happiness Officer, in a post where he discusses some of the differences in work cultures between Scandinavia and Japan, where there’s a word meaning ‘death by overwork’ 過労死 (karōshi).
Do you know if there’s an equivalent to arbejdsglæde in other languages?
Thanks for picking up on this – it is a nifty little word.
If you find an equivalent of arbejdsglæde in other languages please let me know – I’ve been looking for a while and never found any.
There’s a similar word in Swedish, unsurprisingly: arbetsglädje. It means the same thing.
“La joie du travail” ? Although judging by the hits on Google not very popular.
Your blog and site are succulent !
‘Vinnugleði’ in Icelandic is the same as Arbejdsglæde
Vinna = Work
Gleði = Joy/Happiness
pleasure taken in one’s work; job satisfaction; enthusiasm for the task/subject
Let’s not leave out the Finnish version of the word, työilo, which follows the same pattern as the the Scandinavian ones.
I’ve spoken to quite a few people in Taiwan as well as consulted Taiwanese dictionaries and there is not really a solid conceptual word like arbejdsglæde. In my opinion Chinese cultures are not focussed as much on persistent joy but rather on good fortune and luck in response to observing rites — the thought product of Confucianism and Taoism.
One interpreter who works for the president of the nation of Taiwan told me this:
have satisfaction from work
從工作上獲得成就感，從工作上得到滿足
have joy from work
從工作上得到快樂
There might be a four-Chinese-character saying that would match the idea. I’ll still keep my ears out for Hakka or Hoklo-Taiwanese words.