Apedia

House Home Place Building People Terms Live Refer

Id ESLPod_0131_CN
Episode Id ESLPod 131
Episode Title Sharing an Apartment
Title A House and a Home
Text

The terms "house" and "home" are often used to mean the same thing: the place where you live. In many situations, these two words can be used "interchangeably" (one for the other).

However, these two terms can also have slightly different meanings. You would only use "house" to refer to a "stand-alone" (not attached to something else) building where you live. An "apartment" (a room or set of rooms in a building you rent), "condominium"/"condo" (like an apartment, but you can own your own unit), "townhouse" (like a house, but shares a wall with the house next to it, usually with a smaller yard than a house or no yard) are not usually called "houses." On the other hand, you can use "home" to refer to any space where you live and sleep, including a house, apartment, condo, townhouse, and more. A good way to think about it is that "home" is the more general term and "house" is one type of "home."

Keep in mind, however, that when people hear the word "home," they often think of something else, something more than just a building or a room. We often "associate" (connect) "home" with a feeling of belonging and with a place where we feel comfortable. That's why there are expressions like these: "Home is where the heart is," meaning anywhere can be a home as long as the people you love and care about are there; "home sweet home," which is something people say when they return to their home and are very glad to be there; and "a place to call home," which is a place where a person feels he or she belongs. There is even an old song called "A House is Not a Home," meaning that a building or room cannot make you feel like you belong there, or that your house is not necessarily where you can find the people you love.

Topics Home + Community

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