Hostel
/ˈhɒs.təl/noun
A budget accommodation offering shared or simple lodging, especially for travelers.
Did you know?Hostel and hospital share the same Latin root for “guest,” because in the ancient world welcoming a stranger could mean sheltering them in a house, a refuge, or a place of care.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghos-ti-
“stranger, guest, guest-friend”
Latin
Latin
hospes
“guest; host”
Late Latin
Latin
hospitale
“guesthouse; place for lodging”
Old French
Old French
hostel
“lodging; inn; guesthouse”
Middle English
English
hostel
“inn; lodging for travelers”
Modern English
English
hostel
“a budget lodging place, often with shared rooms”