French · Travel & Getting Around
"Hotel" in French: hôtel
l'hôtel
Hotel in French is l'hôtel, masculine, said o-TEL. Réserver un hôtel means book a hotel. The circonflexe on ô is part of the spelling; the h is silent, so you get l'hôtel.
Travel planning
On a trouvé un hôtel près de la gare.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce hôtel
Say it
o-TEL
/o.tɛl/
O-TEL. Silent h. Closed o, stress on TEL. Soft French l. Do not aspirate an English h.
"Hotel" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'hôtel | the hotel With elision. | With elision. |
| un hôtel | a hotel Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| réserver un hôtel | to book a hotel Travel planning. | Travel planning. |
| réception de l'hôtel | hotel reception / front desk Check-in point. | Check-in point. |
How to use hôtel in real life
- 1Travel planning
On a trouvé un hôtel près de la gare.
We found a hotel near the station.
Un hôtel + location.
- 2Check-in
La réception de l'hôtel ferme à minuit.
The hotel front desk closes at midnight.
L'hôtel with elision.
- 3Recommendation
Tu connais un hôtel calme dans le centre ?
Do you know a quiet hotel in the centre?
Asking for advice.
Mistakes English speakers make with hôtel
Incorrect: Le hôtel est plein.
Correct: L'hôtel est plein.
Silent h takes elision: l'hôtel.
Incorrect: Une hôtel chic.
Correct: Un hôtel chic.
Hôtel is masculine: un hôtel.
Good to know
Stars (étoiles) rate hotels in France. Petit déjeuner sometimes costs extra. People still say hôtel for many city stays even when the booking site lists apartments.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving after a late train
ChatPal
Notre hôtel est à cinq minutes à pied.
Our hotel is a five-minute walk.
You
Super. L'hôtel garde les bagages après le check-out ?
Great. Does the hotel hold luggage after check-out?
ChatPal
Oui, la réception de l'hôtel le fait.
Yes, the hotel front desk does that.
You
Parfait, on pourra visiter léger.
Perfect, we can sightsee light.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hotel" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hotel" in French
Why is it l'hôtel not le hôtel?
The h is silent, so French elides: l'hôtel.
Is hôtel masculine?
Yes: un hôtel, l'hôtel.
How do I say book a hotel?
Réserver un hôtel.
How do you pronounce hôtel?
O-TEL, no English h sound.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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