half board
B2Formal/Neutral (used in hospitality, travel brochures, booking websites).
Definition
Meaning
A hotel or resort accommodation package that includes breakfast and dinner (but not lunch).
A meal plan, common in hospitality and tourism, where the price of accommodation includes two daily meals, typically breakfast and an evening meal, offered as a middle option between bed and breakfast and full board.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to a commercial accommodation package. The term itself is a compound noun functioning as a singular, uncountable concept when describing the plan (e.g., 'on half board'), but can be counted when referring to types of packages (e.g., 'different half boards'). The 'half' refers to two meals out of the typical three main daily meals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'half board' is standard and common in British English. In American English, the equivalent term is far more commonly 'Modified American Plan (MAP)'. 'Half board' is understood but used less frequently.
Connotations
In the UK/EU, it directly describes the service. In the US, 'MAP' sounds more technical/hotel-industry specific.
Frequency
High frequency in UK/EU travel contexts; low-to-medium frequency in US travel contexts, where 'MAP' or explicit description ('breakfast and dinner included') is preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The hotel offers half board.We stayed on a half-board basis.Is half board available?The price includes half board.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in hotel management, tour operator contracts, and pricing strategies.
Academic
Rare; might appear in tourism or hospitality management studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing holiday plans, comparing hotel packages, or making travel bookings.
Technical
Standard terminology in the hospitality industry, often abbreviated as 'HB' in internal documents or rate codes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- We booked a half-board package for our week in Cornwall.
- The half-board option was better value.
American English
- The MAP rate is comparable to the half-board rate in Europe.
- They have a half-board deal during the off-season.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel price includes half board.
- Do you want half board or just breakfast?
- We chose half board so we could explore the town at lunchtime.
- Is it cheaper to book with or without half board?
- Upgrading to half board from bed and breakfast cost an extra £20 per night.
- The resort's half-board arrangement allowed us to select from a set menu for dinner.
- Analysing the pricing model, the half-board supplement actually represented a significant markup on the cost of the evening meal.
- The tour operator negotiated a corporate half-board rate that included a buffet breakfast and a three-course à la carte dinner.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a board divided in HALF. You get two parts (breakfast and dinner), but the middle part (lunch) is missing.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS A PACKAGED COMMODITY (board as the old term for meals provided regularly).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'половина доски'. The concept is 'полный пансион на две трети' or more accurately 'проживание с двухразовым питанием'.
- Confusion with 'half board' and 'full board' ('полный пансион') is common; ensure clarity on which meals are included.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'half board' as a countable adjective incorrectly (e.g., 'a half board hotel' instead of 'a hotel offering half board').
- Assuming 'half board' always includes lunch and dinner (it's almost always breakfast + dinner).
- Pronouncing 'board' as /bəʊd/ instead of /bɔːd/.
Practice
Quiz
In American hotel terminology, 'half board' is most commonly known as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'half board' typically includes breakfast and dinner (or sometimes breakfast and lunch, but this is less common and should be specified). Lunch is not included.
'Half board' includes two meals (usually breakfast and dinner). 'Full board' includes three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
No. 'Bed and breakfast' (B&B) includes only breakfast and accommodation. 'Half board' includes breakfast and dinner (or another main meal).
Usually, standard half-board rates include food only. Drinks (except perhaps for water, tea, or coffee with meals) are typically an extra cost, unless specified as 'all-inclusive drinks' or similar.