orfanato
everyday, Mexico
In Mexico an orphanage is orfanato. Care homes for children are officially called casa hogar or albergue infantil, which is how many institutions name themselves. It is also called albergue.
Meaning: home for children without parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| orfanato | everyday, Mexico |
| casa hogar | official, Mexico |
| albergue | shelter |
In daily speech people say orfanato. Organizations use casa hogar, which avoids the older sense of the word.
Which one should you use?
A casa hogar may house children whose parents cannot take care of them, and not only orphans.
How does it change in a sentence?
Orfanato is masculine: el orfanato. A child without parents is huérfano for a boy and huérfana for a girl.
Did you know?
- Huérfano comes from the Latin orphanus, which came from Greek.
Examples in context
- Trabajo como voluntaria en un orfanato.I volunteer at an orphanage.
- La casa hogar recibe donaciones.The children's home accepts donations.
- Es un niño huérfano.He is an orphan boy.
Example conversation
Elena talks with the director of a children's home in Mexico City.
- ElenaBuenos días, quiero hacer una donación.Good morning, I want to make a donation.
- DirectoraGracias, pase a la casa hogar.Thank you, come into the children's home.
- ElenaTraje ropa para los niños.I brought clothes for the children.
