dormitory / residential home
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dormitory
A building with rooms or small apartments that serves as accommodation for specific groups of people, such as students, trainees, or workers.
Während des Studiums habe ich in einem Wohnheim gelebt, weil es günstig war.
During my studies, I lived in a dormitory because it was affordable.
'Wohnheim' (dormitory / residential home) is a compound made from the stem of the verb 'wohnen' (to live) and the noun 'das Heim' (home). So it describes a building that serves as a communal home.
Das Wohnheim wurde erst vor wenigen Jahren modernisiert.
The dormitory was modernized only a few years ago.
Pay attention to the case with the preposition 'in': movement toward the place is expressed with the accusative ('ins Wohnheim ziehen' — to move into the dormitory / residential home), while staying at the place is described with the dative ('im Wohnheim leben' — to live in the dormitory / residential home).
Nächstes Semester ziehe ich in ein Wohnheim in der Nähe der Uni.
Next semester, I’m moving into a dormitory near the university.
What kind of 'Wohnheim' (dormitory / residential home) it is often becomes clear from a preceding word or from the context. Terms like 'Studentenwohnheim' (student dormitory) or 'Seniorenwohnheim' (senior residence / residential home for seniors) make the meaning more precise.
Die Plätze im Studentenwohnheim sind sehr begehrt.
Places in the student dormitory are in high demand.
In the context of students or trainees, you often hear phrases like 'einen Platz im Wohnheim bekommen' (to get a place in a dormitory), 'sich um ein Zimmer im Wohnheim bewerben' (to apply for a room in a dormitory), or 'aus dem Wohnheim ausziehen' (to move out of the dormitory).
Ich habe Glück gehabt und schnell einen Platz im Wohnheim bekommen.
I was lucky and quickly got a place in the dormitory.
home / institution
'das Heim' and 'das Wohnheim' both refer to places where people live, often not in a regular home of their own. 'das Heim' usually means a care institution, for example for children, older people, or people with disabilities. 'das Wohnheim' often refers to a building with rooms for specific groups, such as students or trainees; care does not have to be the main focus there. The words can be confused because a 'Wohnheim' can also be a kind of 'Heim'. As a practical rule: for student accommodation, say 'Wohnheim'; when care is involved, use 'Heim' or, more specifically, the particular type of home.
Meine Kollegin wohnt während der Ausbildung in einem Wohnheim.
My colleague lives in a dormitory during her training.
Nach dem Essen erzählte sie von ihrer Arbeit in einem Heim für Jugendliche.
After dinner, she talked about her work in a home for young people.