Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
foyer
English translation:
hostel
Added to glossary by
Dr Sue Levy (X)
Feb 23, 2005 12:16
19 yrs ago
28 viewers *
French term
Dr Sue Levy (X)
foyer
Non-PRO
French to English
Other
Other
As exists in France, subsidised accommodation for migrants, workers etc., run by the municipality. The residents must pay rent. Is "hostel" a suitable translation, or does that suggest free accommodation (or even a sort of holding place). Would "boarding house" be better?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
6 mins
Selected
hostel
The Muslim News - Attacks on Muslims increase in Corsica
... On December 27, a bottle of acid was thrown into a Sonacotra hostel, where an estimated 116 immigrants were residing, in Bodiccione, south Ajaccio. ...
www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=1829 - 8k - Cac
... On December 27, a bottle of acid was thrown into a Sonacotra hostel, where an estimated 116 immigrants were residing, in Bodiccione, south Ajaccio. ...
www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=1829 - 8k - Cac
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Philip Taylor
: I would say this is the term most often used
17 mins
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Cheers
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| agree |
David Goward
17 mins
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Cheers
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| agree |
Aisha Maniar
50 mins
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Cheers
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| agree |
Ian Burley (X)
1 hr
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Cheers
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| agree |
Charlie Bavington
: This is the word I thought of when reading the description.
2 hrs
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Merci
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| agree |
suezen
2 hrs
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Cheers
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| neutral |
David Vaughn
: Maybe it's because we Yanks just don't believe in publicly-supported anything, but the only image "hostel" brings to mind for me is backpacking hitchhikers, cheap lodgings for the upper middle class voyaging student. I'd prefer something more descriptive.
2 hrs
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I see your point
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| neutral |
Will Matter
: with Vaughn. Only hitchhikers & travelers stay in hostels, people (for example, migrant workers) who stay longer & use it as a "home base" while doing other things stay in "rooming/boarding houses". Hostel=1-3 days stay & then move on to the next locale.
6 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks all. You confirmed my instinct as well as my suspicion about the meaning of hostel in different parts of the English-speaking world!"
+1
3 mins
Isabel Hohneck
Germany
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Native in: German
Works in: English, English to German, English to French, and 20 more.
4 mins
hostel
I totally agree with your first idea, definitely boarding house!
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
writeaway
: 100% confidence-you list the appropriate (and imho only) term and you contradict yourself in the next phrase-what is your answer supposed to be?
21 mins
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5 mins
Will Matter
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
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Native in: English 
Works in: English, Japanese to English, zzz Other zzz to English, and 3 more.
Boarding house
Your second option is better. Hostel residents also pay "rent" (room charge) but in this case, "boarding house" is better.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Charlie Bavington
: Don't know if it's part of the "dictionary definition" but to me (Brit Eng), BH suggests an establishment run by a private individual (a lady of a certain age, hair in curlers, fluffy pink carpet slippers, etc.)
2 hrs
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The nuance & difference in usage, in English, for "hostel" vs. "boarding house" is substantial.
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3 mins
Assimina Vavoula
Greece
Greece
Greece
LEGAL, EU, CORPORATE TRANSLATIONS
Native in: Greek
Works in: French to Greek, Greek to French, English to Greek, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
residential establishment
Petit Robert,1992 : par exemple hospices,maisons de retraite,foyers-logements(ou logements-foyers),foyers-soleil,établissements de l'aide sociale à l'enfance,foyers de l'enfance,maisons d'enfants à caractère social(maisons maternelles,hôtels maternels)
ORIG 4603/81 F(OJ S 219/29): e.g.old persons'home,children's home,remand centre,etc.
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Note added at 6 mins (2005-02-23 12:22:31 GMT)
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OR:
home (viellards)
hostel (etudiants)
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Note added at 15 mins (2005-02-23 12:32:06 GMT)
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HOSTEL OR HOME
ORIG 4603/81 F(OJ S 219/29): e.g.old persons'home,children's home,remand centre,etc.
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Note added at 6 mins (2005-02-23 12:22:31 GMT)
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OR:
home (viellards)
hostel (etudiants)
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Note added at 15 mins (2005-02-23 12:32:06 GMT)
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HOSTEL OR HOME
1 hr
dwelling, houising unit, low income housing (units)...
...
6403 days
foyer
This term has been widely used in the Anglo-world for a long time (it was already in use in 2005).
A hostel is NOTHING like a foyer, which is for people, often young, potentially wishing to stay in settled, reasonably civilised accommodation for short to long stays.
A hostel is NOTHING like a foyer, which is for people, often young, potentially wishing to stay in settled, reasonably civilised accommodation for short to long stays.
Discussion