I’ve asked myself this question and the answer is – it all boils down to Latin. Two words that seem to belong in completely different universes actually share the same origin.
So, here’s the deal. Both “hostel” and “hostile” trace back to the Latin word “hospes,” which means “guest” or “host.” Now, you’d think a word like “hospes” would lead to nothing but friendly, welcoming terms, right? Wrong. Let me break it down for you.
First, “hostel” comes from the Old French word “hostel” (which is “hôtel” in modern French). It was all about providing a place for travelers or guests – a cozy, budget-friendly spot to crash for the night. This idea of hospitality stuck around, and now we’ve got “hostels” all over the world, known for their warm, social vibes. It’s like the Latin root stuck with the whole “make guests feel welcome” energy.
On the other hand, “hostile” went a completely different direction. It also comes from “hospes,” but it evolved through the Latin word “hostis,” which originally meant stranger or foreigner. Over time, though, the word “hostis” started carrying more of a negative vibe – strangers were seen as potential threats. You know how it goes… unfamiliar faces can sometimes make people nervous. And so, “hostile” eventually came to mean someone who is unfriendly or even an enemy.
Isn’t that wild? One root word – two very different meanings.
The reason these two words still sound so much alike today is all because they started in the same place linguistically. They both come from the same root, but their paths split as people’s ideas about strangers changed. Sometimes strangers were guests, other times they were enemies, and that’s how we ended up with words like “hostel” and “hostile.”
So next time you’re booking a bed at a hostel and hoping no one in the dorm is hostile, just remember – those words used to be part of the same story!