hotel des invalides: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, historical, travel, cultural
Quick answer
What does “hotel des invalides” mean?
A historic complex of buildings in Paris, France, originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historic complex of buildings in Paris, France, originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
A major French national monument in Paris, housing military museums, including the Musée de l'Armée, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The name is also used to refer to the architectural complex and its associated institutions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both dialects use the French name. British texts may be slightly more likely to include an explanation in parentheses (e.g., 'the veteran's hospital').
Connotations
Connotes French history, military history, architecture, and tourism equally in both dialects.
Frequency
Low frequency in general English; appears primarily in historical, travel, or cultural contexts. Frequency is similar in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “hotel des invalides” in a Sentence
[The] Hotel des Invalides + [verb: houses, contains, is located in][Subject] + [verb: visited, toured, saw] + the Hotel des InvalidesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hotel des invalides” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The complex is home to the Musée de l'Armée.
- The building houses several museums.
American English
- The site contains Napoleon's tomb.
- The museum displays historic military artifacts.
adverb
British English
- Historically, the building was used veteran-care-related.
American English
- Architecturally, the Hotel des Invalides is significant.
adjective
British English
- The Invalides dome is a Parisian landmark.
- It was an Invalides-related ceremony.
American English
- The Invalides museum is extensive.
- We took an Invalides tour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in travel/tourism industries (e.g., 'Our Paris tour includes the Hotel des Invalides.')
Academic
Used in history, art history, and military studies texts discussing French architecture, Napoleon, or military heritage.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel to Paris or French culture/history. Not part of daily vocabulary.
Technical
Used in architectural, historical preservation, and museology contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hotel des invalides”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hotel des invalides”
- Pronouncing 'des' as /dɛs/ instead of /deɪ/.
- Omitting 'des' and saying 'Hotel Invalides'.
- Treating 'Hotel' as an English word and translating it as a place for temporary lodging.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not typically. It is a proper name and is used as-is in English texts, though it may be glossed as 'the veteran's hospital' or 'the Invalides'.
The tomb of Emperor Napoleon I, located under the golden dome of the Église du Dôme.
It refers to 'invalids' or disabled soldiers (war veterans), specifically those injured in service.
No, an Anglicised pronunciation is acceptable in English conversation. The key is to recognise it as a fixed name and not to translate 'Hotel' as a place offering rooms for the night.
A historic complex of buildings in Paris, France, originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
Hotel des invalides is usually formal, historical, travel, cultural in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of INVALIDS in a HOTEL: It was originally a 'hotel' (French for a large public building) for invalid soldiers.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MONUMENT IS A HISTORY BOOK; A BUILDING IS A TOMB FOR NATIONAL MEMORY.
Practice
Quiz
What was the original primary purpose of the Hôtel des Invalides?