welcome
A welcome is the friendly greeting or reception someone receives when they arrive.
Explanation at your level:
A welcome is a friendly 'hello'. When you go to a friend's house, they say 'Welcome!' to you. It makes you feel good. It is a nice way to start a visit.
A welcome is the way we greet someone. If you arrive at a hotel, the staff gives you a warm welcome. It means they are happy you are there. We often use the phrase 'a warm welcome' to show we are very happy.
When we talk about a welcome, we mean the reception given to a guest. It describes how someone is treated when they first arrive. A good welcome makes people feel comfortable and accepted in a new environment, whether it is a home or a workplace.
The noun welcome refers to the quality of the reception someone receives. It can be modified by adjectives to describe the tone, such as a 'cool' or 'enthusiastic' welcome. It is a standard term used in both social and business settings to denote the formal or informal initiation of a visit.
Beyond the literal greeting, a welcome can represent the cultural or social acceptance of an individual or an idea. For instance, a new policy might receive a 'cold welcome' from the public, indicating resistance. It is a nuanced term that reflects how an arrival is perceived by those already present.
In literary and formal contexts, the noun welcome serves as a barometer for social harmony. It encapsulates the tension between the host's duty of hospitality and the guest's social awareness. Historically, the 'welcome' was a sacred duty, and the word retains a sense of this weight, implying that a proper reception is a fundamental human interaction that defines the boundaries between 'insider' and 'outsider.'
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- A welcome is a friendly greeting.
- It is a countable noun.
- Commonly used with 'warm' or 'cold'.
- It implies hospitality and acceptance.
When we talk about a welcome as a noun, we are describing the warmth and hospitality shown to someone who has just arrived. It is more than just a simple 'hello'; it is the entire experience of being received into a home, office, or community.
Think of the last time you walked into a party where you didn't know many people. If the host smiled, offered you a drink, and introduced you to others, they gave you a warm welcome. That feeling of being accepted is exactly what this word captures. It is a social bridge that turns a stranger into a guest.
The word welcome has deep roots in Old English. It comes from the word wilcuma, which is a combination of wil (meaning 'pleasure' or 'desire') and cuma (meaning 'guest'). Essentially, it literally meant 'one whose arrival is a pleasure.'
Over centuries, the word evolved from describing the person arriving to the act of greeting them. It shares ancestry with the German willkommen and the Dutch welkom. It is fascinating to see how the concept of 'pleasurable arrival' has remained consistent across Germanic languages for over a thousand years.
In English, we often use welcome with adjectives to describe the intensity of the greeting. You will frequently hear phrases like a warm welcome, a cool welcome, or a hero's welcome.
The register of the word is generally neutral to positive. You can use it in a professional email—'We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new team member'—or in a casual setting like a birthday party. It is a versatile word that works in almost any social context where someone is arriving.
1. Wear out one's welcome: To stay somewhere for too long until people are tired of you. Example: 'He stayed for a month and really wore out his welcome.'
2. Roll out the red carpet: To give someone a very special, grand welcome. Example: 'They rolled out the red carpet for the visiting dignitaries.'
3. Outstay one's welcome: Similar to wearing out one's welcome, staying past the point of being wanted. Example: 'I don't want to outstay my welcome, so I'll head home now.'
4. Welcome with open arms: To receive someone very gladly. Example: 'The community welcomed the new family with open arms.'
5. A cold welcome: A reception that is unfriendly or indifferent. Example: 'The new policy received a cold welcome from the staff.'
As a noun, welcome is countable. You can say 'a welcome' or 'welcomes' (though the plural is less common). The stress is on the first syllable: WEL-come.
In British English, the IPA is /ˈwel.kəm/, and in American English, it is /ˈwel.kəm/. It rhymes with words like seldom, velum, and helpmate. Remember that when used as a noun, it is often preceded by an article (a/the) or a possessive adjective (my/their).
Fun Fact
The word is a compound of 'will' (pleasure) and 'come' (guest).
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound followed by a schwa.
Similar to UK, clear 'w' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'l' too heavily
- Stressing the second syllable
- Adding an extra vowel sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very accessible.
Commonly used in formal and informal writing.
Very common in daily speech.
Easy to recognize.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable Nouns
A welcome (countable)
Adjective-Noun Collocations
Warm welcome
Subject-Verb Agreement
The welcomes are warm.
Examples by Level
She gave me a warm welcome.
She gave me a nice hello.
Noun usage.
The welcome was very nice.
The greeting was kind.
Subject position.
I liked the welcome.
I enjoyed the greeting.
Direct object.
They gave us a big welcome.
They greeted us happily.
Object of verb.
A welcome is important.
Greeting is good.
General statement.
The dog gave a happy welcome.
The dog greeted me happily.
Descriptive noun.
We had a great welcome.
We were greeted well.
Past tense context.
Thanks for the welcome.
Thank you for greeting me.
Noun after preposition.
The hotel gave us a warm welcome.
He received a cold welcome at the office.
I appreciated the welcome you gave me.
The team prepared a big welcome for the boss.
A friendly welcome makes a big difference.
She smiled during the welcome.
The welcome lasted for ten minutes.
They were surprised by the warm welcome.
The new students received a formal welcome from the principal.
Her arrival was met with a less than enthusiastic welcome.
The town gave the returning soldiers a hero's welcome.
He felt that his welcome had been slightly forced.
A warm welcome is the hallmark of a good host.
They organized a special welcome for the guest speaker.
The welcome was short but very sincere.
She felt a sense of relief after such a kind welcome.
The proposal received a surprisingly chilly welcome from the board.
Despite the tension, he was given a polite welcome.
The project's success earned it a welcome from the entire community.
She had outstayed her welcome by the end of the weekend.
The welcome ceremony was attended by many dignitaries.
His ideas were given a lukewarm welcome by the critics.
They rolled out the red carpet to ensure a grand welcome.
I felt that my presence was a welcome addition to the team.
The candidate's platform was met with a frosty welcome by the conservative faction.
He was conscious of having outstayed his welcome and decided to depart.
The sudden change in policy received a hostile welcome from the public.
The hospitality shown was a true welcome in the traditional sense.
She was treated to a rapturous welcome upon her return to the stage.
The unexpected guest was given a surprisingly gracious welcome.
The welcome extended to the refugees was a testament to the city's character.
His presence was a welcome relief in such a stressful situation.
The welcome afforded to the delegates was steeped in centuries of diplomatic protocol.
Her arrival was greeted with a welcome that bordered on the reverential.
The welcome he received was a stark contrast to the hostility he had anticipated.
The societal welcome of the new technology was tempered by ethical concerns.
She navigated the social scene with the grace of one who knew her welcome was secure.
The welcome was an elaborate affair, designed to impress the visiting royalty.
His return was marked by a welcome that was both somber and celebratory.
The welcome given to the findings was indicative of a shift in scientific consensus.
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"Wear out one's welcome"
Stay too long.
I left early so I wouldn't wear out my welcome.
casual"Roll out the red carpet"
Give a grand welcome.
They rolled out the red carpet for the CEO.
neutral"Welcome with open arms"
Receive very gladly.
They welcomed the news with open arms.
neutral"Give someone the cold shoulder"
Ignore someone.
She gave him the cold shoulder at the party.
casual"Outstay one's welcome"
Stay past the time wanted.
He outstayed his welcome by three hours.
neutral"A welcome sight"
Something you are happy to see.
The rescue boat was a welcome sight.
neutralEasily Confused
It is the adjective form.
Welcoming describes a person or place; welcome is the act itself.
He is welcoming (adj). He gave a welcome (noun).
They are synonyms.
Greeting is more general; welcome implies hospitality.
A greeting can be brief; a welcome is usually warm.
Both refer to receiving someone.
Reception is often formal (like at a hotel desk).
The hotel reception was busy.
Both are greetings.
Salutation is strictly for formal letters.
Dear Sir is a salutation.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + gave + a + welcome + to + person
They gave a warm welcome to the guests.
The + welcome + was + adjective
The welcome was very sincere.
He + received + a + welcome
He received a cold welcome.
To + outstay + one's + welcome
I don't want to outstay my welcome.
The + welcome + extended + to + them
The welcome extended to them was grand.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Welcome can be both, but ensure the sentence structure matches the part of speech.
Welcoming is the adjective; welcome is the noun.
As a countable noun, it needs an article.
It follows standard pluralization rules.
It describes the act, not the object itself.
Tips
The Will-Come Trick
Remember the 'will' (pleasure) of the 'come' (guest).
Business Greetings
Use 'warm welcome' for new employees.
Hospitality
A welcome is a cultural signal of safety.
Countable Noun
Always remember the article 'a' or 'the'.
Stress the First
Say WEL-come, not wel-COME.
Don't say 'welcoming' as a noun.
Use 'welcome' for the noun.
Old English Roots
It is over 1000 years old!
Contextual Learning
Learn it with the word 'warm'.
Idiom Usage
Only use 'outstay your welcome' for guests.
Rhyme Time
Rhyme it with 'seldom'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
WILL (pleasure) + COME (guest) = A PLEASURABLE GUEST.
Visual Association
A mat at a door that says 'Welcome' with a smiling face.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use the phrase 'warm welcome' in your next English conversation.
Wortherkunft
Old English
Original meaning: Pleasurable guest
Kultureller Kontext
None, though the intensity of a welcome varies by regional culture.
In English-speaking cultures, a 'welcome' is often accompanied by physical gestures like a handshake or a hug.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- extend a welcome
- new hire welcome
- team welcome
At home
- warm welcome
- welcome home
- guest welcome
Travel
- hotel welcome
- airport welcome
- tourist welcome
Events
- welcome speech
- welcome ceremony
- welcome party
Conversation Starters
"What was the warmest welcome you ever received?"
"How do you welcome guests to your home?"
"Do you think a hero's welcome is still relevant today?"
"Have you ever outstayed your welcome?"
"What makes a welcome feel genuine to you?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt truly welcomed.
Write about a place where you felt unwelcome.
How would you design the perfect welcome for a visitor?
Reflect on the importance of hospitality in your culture.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenIt can be both!
Add an 's' to make it 'welcomes'.
A very friendly and enthusiastic greeting.
Yes, it is a countable noun.
A snub or a cold shoulder.
Old English 'wilcuma'.
Yes, it implies you are staying longer than invited.
Use it to greet a new member or visitor.
Teste dich selbst
The ___ was very warm.
Welcome fits the context of a warm reception.
Which is a synonym for welcome?
Reception is a synonym for the act of greeting.
Is 'welcome' a countable noun?
Yes, you can have 'a welcome' or 'many welcomes'.
Word
Bedeutung
These are common collocations.
They gave us a warm welcome.
He ___ his welcome by staying for three weeks.
The idiom is 'wear out one's welcome'.
What does 'outstay one's welcome' mean?
It means staying past the point of being wanted.
Can 'welcome' be used in a formal business context?
Yes, it is common in professional greetings.
Word
Bedeutung
These adjectives describe the quality of a welcome.
The welcome ceremony was grand.
Ergebnis: /10
Summary
A welcome is the warm, hospitable way we make someone feel at home when they arrive.
- A welcome is a friendly greeting.
- It is a countable noun.
- Commonly used with 'warm' or 'cold'.
- It implies hospitality and acceptance.
The Will-Come Trick
Remember the 'will' (pleasure) of the 'come' (guest).
Business Greetings
Use 'warm welcome' for new employees.
Hospitality
A welcome is a cultural signal of safety.
Countable Noun
Always remember the article 'a' or 'the'.
Beispiel
They gave us a warm welcome when we arrived at their house.
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