samfundssind is a compound noun of ‘samfund’ (society) and ‘sind’ (mind). It dates back to 1936. Hygge – which roughly translates to ‘a quality of cosiness’ – may be the most appropriated Danish word of the past decade, but it’s samfundssind that’s really come to define the nation in the era of Covid-19. If hygge is something you practice with people you know, samfundssind is more of a behaviour towards those you might not know. Rarely used until just a few months ago, it’s now entered th Danish vernacular in an explosive way.