Inn

An inn is a road-side facility for serving food and over-night lodging to travellers. Similar establishments can also be called hotel, lodge?, motel?, pub?, restaurant?, or tavern?. The choice of word is up to the owner. Of these words, inn is the shortest and most general.

The owner of an inn is called innkeeper? and his business is called inkeeping?. A useful perspective on the importance of this business can be gained by learning that their translations in the German language are Wirt (a host), Wirtshaus (a host's house), and Wirtschaft. The last word literally means hosting? or hospitality?, but is also used to mean economy and business? in general. Indeed, economy is Greek for house-keeping.

In French language, a city hall is called hotel de ville or city hotel.