hospital

Everyday

A hospital is a large building where sick or injured people are looked after by doctors and nurses. tree →

In the lessons

In health and safety, people go to hospital in an emergency, by ambulance if needed (call 999 in the UK and Ireland, 911 in the USA and Canada, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand); the A&E (UK) or ER (US) department deals with emergencies. Babies are often born in hospitals. Hospitals have wards, operating theatres and visiting hours; be quiet and wash your hands when visiting. In stories, characters stay in hospital to get better.

Examples

• She went to hospital with a broken arm. tree →
• My baby brother was born in this hospital. tree →
• The ambulance took him to the hospital. tree →
• We visited Grandpa in hospital. tree →
• Hospitals are open day and night. tree →
• Wash your hands when you visit a hospital. tree →
• Doctors and nurses work at the hospital. tree →
• “My dear Pinocchio, the Fairy is lying ill in a hospital.” tree →

Note

Countable. British English: «in hospital», «go to hospital» (no «the»); American English: «in the hospital». The «h» is pronounced: «a hospital», not «an hospital». «Hospitality» (being welcoming to guests) comes from the same old word.