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institution
A facility where people live who need constant care, e.g. elderly people (nursing home), children (children's home), or people with disabilities.
Ihre Großmutter lebt seit einem Jahr in einem Pflegeheim.
Her grandmother has been living in a nursing home for a year.
In modern language, 'Heim' is most commonly used as the second part of a compound noun for an institution. Examples are 'Altenheim' (retirement home), 'Pflegeheim' (nursing home), 'Kinderheim' (children's home), or 'Studentenheim' (student residence).
In diesem Stadtteil wird ein neues Seniorenheim gebaut.
A new senior citizens' home is being built in this district.
When 'Heim' stands alone for one's own home, the style is elevated, poetic, or emotional. In normal everyday language, 'Zuhause' (home) or 'Wohnung' (apartment) are the more usual words.
Endlich wieder im eigenen Heim!
Finally back in my own home!
'Heim' is the root of words that have to do with the feeling of home and belonging, such as 'die Heimat' (homeland) or 'heimlich' (secret, originally: belonging to the house).
Viele Menschen haben Sehnsucht nach ihrer alten Heimat.
Many people long for their old homeland.
house
'das Haus' and 'das Heim' can both have to do with the place where someone lives. 'Haus' usually means the concrete building, or in fixed expressions one's own home, for example 'zu Hause' (at home) or 'nach Hause' (home). 'Heim' can be an elevated or emotional word for one's own home, but in everyday language it is often used for an institution where people receive care, for example an 'Altenheim' (retirement home) or 'Kinderheim' (children's home). That is why the words can easily be confused. For the normal residential building, people usually say 'Haus'. 'Heim' is more suitable when a sense of safety and belonging is emphasized, or when a care institution is meant.
Seine Großmutter lebt seit zwei Jahren in einem Heim.
His grandmother has been living in a home for two years.
Nach dem Training gehe ich direkt nach Hause.
After training, I go straight home.