home / institution
Loading your saved state.
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.
home
An elevated or poetic expression for one's own home, the place where one lives and feels safe and secure.
Nach der langen Reise sehnte er sich nach seinem trauten Heim.
After the long journey, he longed for his cozy home.
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
In the fixed expression nach Hause, Haus refers to one’s own place of residence. Heim can also refer to one’s own place of residence, but in this sense it sounds elevated or poetic and often emphasizes a feeling of security and belonging. For the usual return to one’s place of residence, people generally say nach Hause.
Nach vielen Jahren in der Fremde kehrt Lea in ihr Heim zurück.
After many years abroad, Lea returns to her home.
Nach der Arbeit fährt Lea nach Hause.
Lea is driving home after work.
