What does guesthouse mean?
A guesthouse is a small lodging establishment that provides rooms, and often meals, for paying visitors. It may operate as a business or describe a private home that takes in guests. Unlike a full hotel, a guesthouse is generally modest, informal, and closely associated with personal hospitality. The word is especially common in British English and is also established in American English, although American speakers may more often say inn or bed-and-breakfast. In use, guesthouse suggests a place where visitors are received as guests rather than treated solely as customers. A family guesthouse on a quiet island road, for example, promises a more personal overnight stay than a chain hotel, and the compound word itself neatly captures its purpose: a house for guests.
nounA small establishment that provides overnight accommodation, usually with optional meals, for paying visitors. The term may also refer to a private home that accommodates guests.
- A small establishment or private home that provides overnight accommodation, usually for paying visitors and sometimes meals.
"They booked a room at a charming guesthouse near the harbor."
"We stayed at a family-run guesthouse overlooking the valley."
"The historic guesthouse offers six rooms and traditional evening dinners."
The standard plural refers to multiple establishments providing guest accommodation.
"The village has several guesthouses for visitors."
A guesthouse is hospitality distilled: a small house whose front door opens to paying strangers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does guesthouse come from?
Guesthouse is an English compound formed from guest and house. Guest came into Middle English from Old Norse gestr, whereas house descends from Old English hūs; the compound is recorded from the late eighteenth century. The guest element is also the source of compounds such as guestroom and guestbook and is related to the English word gist.
Related word forms
How guesthouse is actually used
The term is neutral and especially common in British English. In American English it is established but less frequent than alternatives such as inn or bed-and-breakfast; depending on the establishment, it may evoke personal, informal hospitality rather than commercial hotel service.
Easily confused with guesthouse
A guesthouse usually provides private rooms and may offer meals, whereas a hostel commonly provides shared accommodation and has a more budget-oriented association.