House and home can both be about where you live, but they are not the same. A house is a building. A home is the place where you live and belong.
- House: a tall house with a blue door. (a building)
- Home: I'm going home. (the place where I live)
House: the building
A house is something you can see, count and point to. It has walls, a roof, a door and windows.
The house on the corner is yellow.
They built a new house by the river.
There are four houses on this street.
Our school is next to a big house.
Home: where you belong
A home is the place where a person, a family or an animal lives. It can be a house, a flat, a boat or even a nest.
I miss my home when I travel.
The bird's nest is its home.
It's good to be home.
Make yourself at home.
Easy way to tell them apart
Ask: am I talking about the building, or about belonging?
- A building you can point at? Use house.
- The place you live and feel you belong? Use home.
That house is for sale. (a building)
That is my home. (where I live)
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Picture a house without people. It is only walls, a roof and windows. Add people, laughter and dinner. Now it is a home.
A house is built. A home is made.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Do not say to home.
❌ I go to home after school.
✅ I go home after school.
Use at home, not in home.
❌ My sister is in home.
✅ My sister is at home.
A house is a building, so use in the house.
❌ The cat is at the house. (if you mean inside it)
✅ The cat is in the house.
📌 Good to know
- After go, come, get, walk, run and arrive, say home with no to: go home, come home, get home.
- Say at home for being there: I'm at home.
- Use the with house if you mean a particular building: the house.
- A home can also be a place where people or animals are looked after, such as a care home or an animal home.
- Many everyday phrases use home: homework, homesick, home team.
💬 In a Conversation
Mia: I'm going home now.
Sam: Is your house far?
Mia: It's the green one. It's a house, but it's home.
Sam: I'll see you tomorrow.
Mia: And I'll see my sofa tonight.