hostel
gb/hˈɑstəl/ us/hˈɑstəl/
B1
English
~ 9100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
cheap shared lodging for travelers
A cheap place where travelers can sleep, often in bunk beds in a shared room with other people.
Usage pattern:
to stay in a hostel in [place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "hostel" with "hotel". A hotel usually has private rooms and more services, while a hostel often has shared rooms and shared bathrooms. Some learners also confuse the spelling with "hostile" (meaning unfriendly), which is a completely different word.
Synonyms
guesthouse (Often smaller and more private than a hostel, sometimes family-run and with fewer shared rooms.)
|
budget hotel (Suggests low price like a hostel but usually has private rooms instead of shared dorms.)
|
dormitory (Focuses on the shared sleeping room itself; often used for student housing, not only for travelers.)
Antonyms
luxury hotel (Offers expensive, private, and very comfortable rooms, which is the opposite of a basic, low-cost hostel.)
Collocations
youth hostel
|backpackers' hostel
|stay in a hostel
|book a hostel
|hostel dorm
|hostel kitchen
Themes
travel
|daily life
|housing
Examples
- We decided to save money by staying in a hostel near the train station.
- The hostel has a shared kitchen where guests can cook their own meals.
- I met travelers from five different countries in my hostel dorm last night.
- This hostel offers free walking tours and maps of the city.
- The hostel was basic but clean, and the staff were very friendly.
Learner examples
- We stay in a hostel when we travel on a low budget.
- The hostel room has eight beds in it.
- You can meet many new friends in a hostel.
- I booked a hostel in London for three nights.
- This hostel is cheap, but it is safe and clean.
Noun
B2
entity
2
residence for students or workers
A building where students or workers live, usually with shared rooms, bathrooms, and a common area.
Usage pattern:
to live in a hostel near [institution]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is the same as a tourist hostel. In many countries, especially in South Asia, a "hostel" is long-term student or worker housing, not a place for short-stay travelers. Learners also sometimes use "hostel" when "dorm" or "hall of residence" would be more natural in American or British campus contexts.
Synonyms
dormitory (Common in American English for student housing; may refer to the building or the shared sleeping room.)
|
hall of residence (Mainly British English; emphasizes official university student housing and can sound more formal than "hostel".)
Antonyms
private apartment (A self-contained, private living space, unlike a hostel where facilities are shared and more regulated.)
Collocations
student hostel
|university hostel
|workers' hostel
|hostel warden
|hostel rules
|hostel mess
Themes
education
|housing
|work
Examples
- First-year students are guaranteed a place in the university hostel.
- The hostel warden reminded everyone about the quiet hours after 10 p.m.
- She moved out of the student hostel into a rented flat with her friends.
- Nurses from the rural areas are staying in a workers' hostel near the hospital.
- The college hostel provides meals in the common dining hall, called the mess.
Learner examples
- I live in a student hostel near the campus.
- The hostel has a shared bathroom on each floor.
- New students must follow the hostel rules.
- He left the hostel and rented a small room in the city.
- Our hostel warden checks the rooms every week.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hostel
IPA
GB/hˈɑstəl/
US/hˈɑstəl/
Syllables & stress
hostel (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hostel)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hostel
- Plural: hostels
Word family
Forms
hostels
noun
Core family
host
noun A2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
inhospitable
adjective
Expressions
backpackers' hostel
1/bˈækpˌækɚz hˈɑstəl/
fixed phrase
hostel for budget backpackers
A hostel that is popular with backpackers who travel with low budgets and carry all their things in a backpack.
Examples
- This town has several backpackers' hostels close to the beach.
- We met at a backpackers' hostel while traveling through South America.
hostel accommodation
1/hˈɑstəl əkˌɑmədˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
lodging provided in hostels
Accommodation where you sleep in hostels, usually cheap and with shared rooms.
Examples
- They chose hostel accommodation to keep their travel costs low.
- Hostel accommodation is popular with solo travelers and students.
hostel dorm
1/hˈɑstəl dˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
shared sleeping room in a hostel
A room in a hostel with many beds where several guests sleep together.
Examples
- I prefer a small hostel dorm with four beds instead of a big one.
- The hostel dorm was noisy because people arrived late at night.
hostel room
1/hˈɑstəl ɹˈum/
fixed phrase
sleeping room inside a hostel
A room in a hostel where guests sleep; it can be private or shared with other people.
Examples
- Our hostel room had six bunk beds and one small window.
- She paid a little more for a private hostel room.
hostel warden
1/hˈɑstəl wˈɔɹdən/
fixed phrase
person in charge of a hostel
The person who manages a hostel and makes sure that rules are followed, especially in a student hostel.
Examples
- The hostel warden called a meeting to discuss safety rules.
- You must ask the hostel warden for permission to stay out late.
stay in a hostel
1/stˈeɪ ˈɪn ə hˈɑstəl/
fixed phrase
sleep as a guest in a hostel
To sleep in a hostel for one or more nights, instead of in a hotel or at home.
Examples
- When I travel alone, I usually stay in a hostel to save money.
- They stayed in a hostel for a week while they looked for an apartment.
student hostel
1/stˈudənt hˈɑstəl/
fixed phrase
hostel used by students
A hostel where students live during the school or university year.
Examples
- The university runs a large student hostel near the main campus.
- First-year students usually stay in the student hostel.
youth hostel
1/jˈuθ hˈɑstəl/
fixed phrase
Cheap place for young travelers to stay
A cheap place where mainly young people can stay when traveling.
Examples
- We stayed at a youth hostel near the train station.
- We booked beds at a youth hostel just outside the city center.
- Youth hostels are popular with backpackers on a budget.
- The youth hostel organizes activities so guests can meet each other.