Home or House?

Let's start by clarifying what a house is and what a home is according to the perspective of English speakers. "Home is where the heart is..." says a popular expression. Here is another: "Home is where you hang your hat..." Plain a simple home is the place a person occupy day in and day out, but truly it is much more than that. Home is essentially where you long to be, where you can find those who love you and who you love, where you can go quietly and wait for the next day without having to worry about anything else. 
A house on the other side is only a building, the one you inhabit perhaps. Thus, a house can be a person's home but not always. You can live in a certain place but if  your thoughts keep flying to another site then you're not home. The problem therefore is for Spanish-speakers. In Spanish we do have the same conception of home as in English, but for us if you live in a place and take care of it, that is your home (HOGAR), and if you own a house that may also also be home, but we call it CASA as well. 
"Mi casa es tu casa" is a common expression in Mexico used when welcoming a friend. So HOGAR and CASA are often used as synonyms and that explains the logical confusion of learners who end up saying: "After work I usually go to my house" when using the word HOME would be more appropriate.
I like the distinction that English speakers make. Truly, you may have twelve houses and none would be your home and you may not have a house (or apartment) to call your own and still have a place where there is someone who loves you so much that will receive you with open arms saying these sweet words: "Welcome home!"                                                                                                                                                                                        

Comments

Luis Bermudes said…
Sounds like you have a clear idea of what home is.
July 28, 2012 at 8:22 PM
Luis Tapia said…
In my opinion a home is not necessarily a house, it is anywhere you can stay with people that love you. A house is a physical space where you can stay with or whithout people that love you.
August 1, 2012 at 6:02 PM
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