hospitals - Master This Word
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hospitals Word Meanings
- a place where people receive medical treatment
- an institution for the care of the sick or injured
- a facility that provides services for health care
hospitals Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
hospitals Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈhɒspɪtl/
US
/ˈhɑːspɪtl/
hospitals Word Etymology
Root decomposition: hospit- = guest, -al = relating to. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a guest house that takes care of sick travelers, welcoming them and providing healing.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I push open a heavy door and step into a long, bright hallway. I move past room numbers, turning a corner as the nurse calls out a number and the footsteps pick up their rhythm. The air feels clean and careful, and I adjust my pace, keeping calm as I find the reception. In this moment, the hospital becomes a scene of help and steady hands, where people set about healing and tending to injuries.
Real Context
Hospital is a large institution that provides medical treatment and care for people who are sick or injured. It includes departments like emergency, surgery, maternity, and intensive care, and can offer inpatient and outpatient services. Many people distinguish hospital care from a clinic or doctor's office: you typically go to a hospital for serious illness, major procedures, or situations requiring hospitalization. In British English you often say 'go to hospital' without 'the', while in American English you usually say 'go to the hospital'. Understanding these structures and common phrases helps you talk about health care clearly in different situations.
Usage Reminders
- Go to the hospital for serious illness or procedures
- Use clinic for minor care or check-ups
- Be aware: 'the hospital' vs 'hospital' (British vs American usage)
- Know common phrases: hospital stay, hospital admission, emergency department
- Use 'in hospital' (UK) vs 'in the hospital' (US) to describe being admitted
- Watch pronunciation: hos-pi-tal
Common Misconceptions
- Hospital and clinic are the same thing, just different names
- You always visit a hospital for any health issue
- The hospital always requires hospitalization for any serious illness
- All hospitals are the same size and have the same services
- The word hospital cannot be used with 'the' in American English
Thinking Differences
In English, hospital emphasizes a large, organized medical system with distinct departments and levels of care; learners often think of hospital as a general, all-purpose place and mix it up with clinic or doctor’s office. Also, article usage (the hospital vs hospital) reflects regional variety.
Learning Tips
- Learn the core collocations: hospital stay, hospital admission, emergency department
- Remember the difference between ‘go to the hospital’ (US) and ‘go to hospital’ (UK)
- Use the correct prepositions: go to the hospital vs be in the hospital
- Practice with real contexts: ER, surgery, maternity wards
- Differentiate hospital from clinic and doctor’s office
- Watch pronunciation: hos-pi-tal
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
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