Vocabulary · Travel
Hotel in English
A2
Hotel in English: the reception and the staff, types of rooms, services like breakfast and wifi, and the words you need to book a room, check in and check out. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The hotel
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hotel(n.)“I booked a hotel room.” | a building where you pay to sleep | /həʊˈtel/ |
| reception(n.) | the desk where guests arrive | /rɪˈsepʃən/ |
| lobby(n.) | the big entrance hall of a hotel | /ˈlɒbi/ |
| receptionist(n.) | the person who welcomes guests at the desk | /rɪˈsepʃənɪst/ |
| guest(n.) | a person staying at a hotel | /ɡest/ |
Rooms
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| room(n.) | your own space to sleep in a hotel | /ruːm/ |
| single room(n.) | a room for one person | /ˈsɪŋɡəl ruːm/ |
| double room(n.) | a room with one big bed for two | /ˈdʌbəl ruːm/ |
| twin room(n.) | a room with two single beds | /twɪn ruːm/ |
| suite(n.) | a large, expensive set of rooms | /swiːt/ |
| key / key card(n.) | the thing that opens your door | /kiː/ |
Services
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| breakfast(n.) | the first meal of the day | /ˈbrekfəst/ |
| wifi(n.) | wireless internet connection | /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ |
| gym(n.) | a room with machines for exercise | /dʒɪm/ |
| pool(n.) | a place to swim | /puːl/ |
| room service(n.) | food brought to your room | /ruːm ˈsɜːvɪs/ |
| parking(n.) | a place to leave your car | /ˈpɑːkɪŋ/ |
Booking
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| to book / reserve(v.) | to arrange a room in advance | /bʊk/ |
| reservation(n.) | an arrangement to keep a room for you | /ˌrezəˈveɪʃən/ |
| check-in(n.) | arriving and registering at a hotel | /ˈtʃek ɪn/ |
| check-out(n.) | leaving a hotel and paying | /ˈtʃek aʊt/ |
| per night(phrase) | for each night you stay | /pə naɪt/ |
| view(n.) | what you can see from the window | /vjuː/ |
A common mistake
Double room or twin room?
A double room is a room for two people with one big bed. A twin room is a room for two people with two single beds. This difference is important when you book.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Hotel
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
The “Hotel” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Practise on PLAYHotel: learn these words for good
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For teachers“Hotel” vocabulary, ready for your lessons
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Frequently asked questions
How do you book a hotel room in English?+
Say I'd like to book a room from + date to + date. On the phone, you can start with I'd like to make a reservation. When you arrive, say I have a reservation under the name + your name.
What is the difference between a double room and a twin room?+
A double room has one big bed for two people. A twin room has two separate single beds. Ask for the one you want when you book, so you do not get a surprise.
What questions can you ask at hotel reception?+
Useful questions at the reception desk: Is breakfast included? Does the room have wifi? Is there a view? Can I see the room? What time is check-out?
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/hotel
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.