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 notesIn plain EnglishCheap, shared accommodation, often popular with young travelers on a budget.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
youth hostel
stay in a hostel
hostel dorm
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Word forms
- Plural
- hostels
- Third person singular
- hostels
- Past tense
- hosteled, hostelled
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."
Synonyms
View more →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.
