German word

Pension

Pronunciation

IPA/pɑ̃ˈzi̯oːn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounguesthouse

Example

Im Sommer vermietet die Familie ihre Pension an Touristen.

In summer, the family rents out their guesthouse to tourists.

Illustration for Pension (guesthouse)

More examples

Wir haben die kleine Pension am See renoviert.

We renovated the small guesthouse by the lake.

Core concept

One word connects a family-run lodging with a recurring payment that supports someone beyond their working years.

Common phrases

  • in einer Pension übernachten

    stay at a guesthouse

  • eine Pension betreiben

    run a guesthouse

  • bei einer Pension einchecken

    check in at a guesthouse

Similar words

Hotel: A larger lodging with many rooms and a range of guest services.
Rente: Regular income paid after retirement.
Gasthaus: A small local inn offering meals and rooms.
Ferienhaus: A whole house rented as holiday accommodation.

Definition in German

Bezeichnung für eine privat betriebene Unterkunft (oft mit Frühstück) oder für eine regelmäßige Rentenzahlung; der Kontext entscheidet.

Word origin

The German noun was borrowed from French pension, which derives from Latin pensio for a payment and carried both accommodation and allowance senses.

Usage tips

  • In formal usage, Pension often denotes a civil servant's retirement benefit, whereas Rente usually refers to a statutory pension.

Other meanings

  • pensionnoun

Related words

  • Pensionsbetriebguesthouse operationnoun
  • Pensionszimmerguesthouse roomnoun

Word lists with this word