hostel

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   a cheap place to stay, often with shared rooms and bathrooms, used by young travelers or students

   Grammar: Countable noun: a hostel, two hostels. Often used in compounds like 'youth hostel'.

   Patterns

   • stay at a hostel
   • a youth hostel
   • a hostel for students

   We stayed at a hostel in Rome to save money.

   The hostel was clean and had a shared kitchen.

   Many students live in a hostel during their first year at university.

2. 2nouncountable

   a supervised place where people in need, such as the homeless, can stay temporarily

   Grammar: Countable noun; often used with 'for' to say who it is for: a hostel for the homeless.

   Patterns

   • a hostel for someone
   • a homeless hostel

   The city opened a new hostel for homeless people.

   He spent a few nights in a hostel before finding a flat.

Word forms

Common combinations

youth hostel

Youth hostels are popular with backpackers.

stay at a hostel

We stayed at a hostel near the train station.

hostel accommodation

Hostel accommodation is much cheaper than hotels.

book a hostel

I booked a hostel online for our trip.

Synonyms and how they differ

inn

An inn is usually a small hotel, often in the countryside, and provides more privacy; a hostel is cheaper with shared facilities.

dormitory

A dormitory is a building with many beds, often for students; a hostel can also be for travelers and may have private rooms.

Word family

hosteler noun

A person who stays in hostels, especially while traveling.

hostelry noun

An old-fashioned word for a hotel or inn.

Commonly confused: hostel or hospital? hostel or hotel?

Practice

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