hotel
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
An establishment providing accommodation and meals, typically for travellers, for payment.
A building, organization, or establishment whose main function is to provide paid lodging. By extension, can refer to the physical premises, the management, or the hospitality service itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a hypernym covering various sub-types (boutique hotel, budget hotel, resort hotel). While its primary meaning is commercial accommodation, it is occasionally used metaphorically (e.g., 'hotel California'). The indefinite article is 'a', not 'an'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The phonetic pronunciation differs, particularly the initial 'h' sound. The concept of 'checking into' a hotel is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'hotel' has standard commercial connotations. In certain historical British contexts, 'hotel' can refer to a grand townhouse (e.g., The French Ambassador's Hôtel).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
stay at/check into/book a [HOTEL]The [HOTEL] offers [SERVICE]a [ADJECTIVE] hotelThe [HOTEL] is located in [PLACE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Ritz (as a generic for luxury, e.g., 'We're not staying at the Ritz')”
- “hotel California ('you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in travel, tourism, hospitality, and expense management contexts.
Academic
Used in tourism studies, urban planning, and hospitality management research.
Everyday
Very common when discussing travel plans, holidays, or city visits.
Technical
In the hospitality industry, refers to a specific classification of commercial accommodation with defined services.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We decided to hotel in Brighton for the weekend.
- (Rare, journalistic) The team will hotel near the stadium.
American English
- The sales team will hotel in Chicago during the conference.
- (Rare) They hotelled along the coast during their road trip.
adjective
British English
- The hotel restaurant was fully booked.
- We discussed the hotel tariffs.
American English
- The hotel bar closes at midnight.
- I need the hotel wifi password.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Our hotel is near the station.
- I like this hotel. It is very clean.
- Is there a hotel in this town?
- We've booked a three-star hotel for two nights.
- The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet.
- Could you recommend a good hotel in the city centre?
- Despite its unassuming facade, the boutique hotel offered exceptional service.
- The hotel's management swiftly resolved the issue with our billing.
- We opted for a hotel that catered specifically to business travellers.
- The proposed development includes a flagship hotel designed by a renowned architect, intended to revitalise the waterfront.
- The conglomerate's portfolio spans from budget hotels to palatial resorts, demonstrating a vertically integrated hospitality strategy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'HOSTEL'. A HOTEL is like a more comfortable, private HOSTEL. Both provide a place to stay.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOTEL AS A TEMPORARY HOME; A BUILDING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The 'h' is pronounced (not silent like in French).
- Russian 'гостиница' is a direct equivalent, but 'отель' is also used in modern Russian.
- Do not confuse with 'hostel' (общежитие, хостел).
Common Mistakes
- Using the article 'an' (incorrect: 'an hotel', though historically British English sometimes used it).
- Misspelling as 'hotell' or 'hottel'.
- Incorrect pronunciation omitting the /h/ sound in American English.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses the word 'hotel' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in standard modern British and American English, the 'h' is pronounced. The older, French-influenced pronunciation with a silent 'h' (leading to 'an hotel') is now considered archaic or highly formal in British English and is not used in American English.
A motel (motor hotel) is typically designed for motorists, with rooms accessible directly from the parking area, often located along highways. A hotel is generally a larger, multi-story building in an urban or resort setting, with interior corridors and a wider range of services.
Yes, but it is rare and somewhat informal or journalistic. It means 'to stay or reside in a hotel', e.g., 'The team will hotel in Milan before the match.'
'A hotel' is correct in all modern contexts. 'An hotel' is an archaic form based on the old pronunciation with a silent 'h' and should be avoided by learners.
Collections
Part of a collection
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