home
/həʊm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The place where a person lives and feels they belong. It can be a house, flat, or another living place.
- I want to go home now.
- This is my home.
- Home feels peaceful after work.
adjective
Relating to the house or family life. It is often used before another noun.
- She has home responsibilities.
- We use home insurance.
- He made a home meal for us.
adverb
Towards or at home. It is common in phrases like 'go home' and 'arrive home'.
- I went home early.
- They arrived home at midnight.
- Please drive home safely.
Adinary Nuance
Home is more personal than house. A house is the building, but home is the place where you live and feel emotionally attached. People also use home in expressions like 'go home' and 'at home', where 'house' would not fit. It is more about belonging than about bricks and walls.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nhà
- Spanish
- hogar
- Chinese
- 家
- Japanese
- 家
- Korean
- 집
Etymology
Old English hām meant 'dwelling' or 'village'. It is a very old Germanic word and has kept a basic, everyday meaning in modern English.
Common phrases
go homeat homehome townhome sweet home
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between home and house?
- House means the building. Home means the place where you live and feel comfortable.
- Is home used in formal writing?
- Yes. Home is common in both formal and informal English, especially in everyday writing.
- Can I say 'at home' for my country?
- Yes, sometimes. It can mean your own country, not only your house.