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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

hostel

HOS-tuhl

Hostel (noun) means Cheap, shared lodging for travelers, often with dormitory-style rooms. Example: “We stayed in a youth hostel in Prague for ten dollars a night.”

noun
1
Cheap, shared lodging for travelers, often with dormitory-style rooms.
"We stayed in a youth hostel in Prague for ten dollars a night."
2
A residence offering temporary shelter, such as for homeless people.
"The shelter operates as a hostel for people between homes."

How to use hostel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCheap, shared accommodation, often popular with young travelers on a budget.

Common pairings
youth hostel stay in a hostel hostel dorm

Word forms

hosteled past tense, hostelled past tense, hostels plural, hostels singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We stayed in a youth _____ in Prague for ten dollars a night.

Etymology

From Old French hostel, from Latin hospitale — a doublet of "hotel" and "hospital," all from the same root meaning "hospitable."

Origin: Latin

inn lodge auberge hostelry youth hostel student lodging

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “hostel” mean?

The word “hostel” means cheap, shared lodging for travelers, often with dormitory-style rooms. In plain terms, cheap, shared accommodation, often popular with young travelers on a budget.

How do you pronounce “hostel”?

“Hostel” is pronounced HOS-tuhl (/ˈhɑstəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “hostel” in a sentence?

Here is “hostel” used in a sentence: “We stayed in a youth hostel in Prague for ten dollars a night.”

What part of speech is “hostel”?

“Hostel” is a noun.

Where does the word “hostel” come from?

The word “hostel” comes from Latin. From Old French hostel, from Latin hospitale — a doublet of "hotel" and "hospital," all from the same root meaning "hospitable.".

Is “hostel” a common word?

“Hostel” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “hostel” have?

“Hostel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cheap, shared lodging for travelers, often with dormitory-style rooms.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial