roommate
Very HighInformal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person with whom one shares a living space, such as a flat or house, typically involving shared common areas like a kitchen or living room, but not necessarily sharing a bedroom.
In extended use, can refer to any close associate who shares a space or situation, such as a dormitory mate, a cabin-mate on a ship, or figuratively, someone with whom one shares a close professional or personal environment (e.g., in a reality TV show). In North American contexts, often used specifically for someone sharing an apartment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term focuses on the shared living arrangement, not necessarily friendship. It can be used for formal (leaseholder) and informal arrangements. Implies a degree of cohabitation and shared responsibility for the space.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'flatmate' or 'housemate' are more common and precise for someone sharing a flat or house. 'Roommate' in the UK can be interpreted literally as someone sharing the same bedroom (e.g., in a hostel, university hall). In American English, 'roommate' is the default, generic term for anyone sharing an apartment or house, regardless of bedroom arrangement. 'Housemate' is understood but less common.
Connotations
In the US, 'roommate' is neutral and standard. In the UK, using 'roommate' for a flatshare might sound Americanised or imprecise; 'flatmate' or 'housemate' avoids the potential implication of sharing a bedroom.
Frequency
'Roommate' is extremely frequent in North American English. In UK English, 'flatmate' and 'housemate' are more frequent for domestic cohabitation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] has a roommate.[Subject] is roommates with [Person]. (US, informal plural)[Subject] lives with [Number] roommate(s).[Subject] and [Person] are roommates.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “They get along like oil and water, but they're roommates.”
- “My roommate is a total night owl.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in property rental contexts (e.g., 'listing for a roommate').
Academic
Common in university housing and student life discussions.
Everyday
Extremely common in personal conversation, accommodation searches, and lifestyle topics.
Technical
Not typical; 'co-tenant' or 'co-resident' might be used in legal/lease documents.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'To roommate' is not standard. Use 'to share a flat/house with'.
- They decided to flatmate together for a year.
American English
- 'To roommate' is very informal/slang (e.g., 'We roommated in New York for a while'). Standard: 'We were roommates'.
adjective
British English
- 'Roommate' is not used as an adjective. Use 'flatmate' attributively (e.g., flatmate issues).
American English
- Informal/colloquial use exists (e.g., roommate drama, roommate situation, roommate agreement).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My roommate is from Spain.
- I have two roommates in my flat.
- She is looking for a new roommate.
- My roommate and I split the rent and the bills equally.
- We found a third roommate to make the rent more affordable.
- Being tidy is important when you have a roommate.
- Before you move in, it's wise to draft a basic roommate agreement covering chores and bills.
- Despite being polar opposites, they turned out to be remarkably compatible roommates.
- He's had a succession of difficult roommates since moving to the city.
- The dynamics of the roommate relationship shifted after one of them lost their job.
- She served as an inadvertent mediator in the dispute between her two other roommates.
- Their initial arrangement as casual roommates evolved into a lifelong professional partnership.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ROOM + MATE: Think of a MATE (friend/companion) you share a ROOM or living space with.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHARING A SPACE IS SHARING A LIFE STAGE (e.g., 'We were roommates in our wild twenties.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'сосед по комнате' in all UK contexts, as it strongly implies sharing a bedroom. For a flatshare, 'сосед по квартире' or 'сожитель' (though the latter can have romantic connotations) might be closer. In US contexts, 'сосед по квартире/дому' is fine.
- The informal US plural construction 'We are roommates' does not imply multiple people; it's an idiom. Translate as 'Мы живем вместе' or 'Мы соседи по квартире'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'roommate' in a UK context when you mean 'flatmate'.
- In US English, using 'roommate' for someone you share a bedroom with specifically, which requires clarification (e.g., 'We shared a bedroom in college').
- Using it as a verb ('We roommate together') is non-standard; use 'We are roommates' or 'We share a flat'.
Practice
Quiz
In American English, which sentence is most natural and common?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, 'roommate' is the generic term. In British English, 'flatmate' is for sharing a flat/apartment, 'housemate' for a house, and 'roommate' often implies sharing a bedroom.
Typically no. 'Roommate' implies a non-romantic, practical living arrangement. For romantic partners, terms like 'partner', 'boyfriend/girlfriend', or 'significant other' are used, even if they live together.
Yes, in informal American English, 'roommates' can refer to any group sharing a living space (e.g., 'The three of us are roommates'). It functions as a plural relational noun.
No, it's not standard. While you might hear informal slang like 'We roommated in college', the correct phrasing is 'We were roommates in college' or 'We shared a flat in college'.