half-board

IPA/ˌhɑːf ˈbɔːd/
IPA/ˌhæf ˈbɔːrd/

half-board — noun

1. a hotel accommodation arrangement where the price includes a room, breakfast, an

1.nounB1
Definition

a hotel accommodation arrangement where the price includes a room, breakfast, and one main meal each day, usually the evening meal.

Example

The Watanabe family booked half-board at the seaside hotel for their summer holiday.

uncountable noun: 'booked half-board'

Dario chose half-board because he wanted to explore local restaurants at lunchtime.

Common collocations
  • book half-board
  • on a half-board basis
  • half-board rate
  • half-board terms
  • half-board accommodation
  • choose half-board
  • half-board arrangement
  • half-board option
  • prefer half-board
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

half-board + noun (as modifier)

on a half-board basis

Usage Note

Primarily used in British and European hotel contexts. In North America the term 'Modified American Plan' (MAP) is more common. Half-board always covers breakfast and one main meal (typically dinner); lunch is not included. The term 'half' refers to providing roughly half the meals compared with full board, not to a free-choice system.

Common Mistakes

I booked a half-board at the hotel.
I booked half-board at the hotel.
'half-board' is uncountable and does not take an article.
Half-board means you choose any two meals.
Half-board includes breakfast plus one set meal, usually dinner.
It is not a pick-and-choose system; the provider decides which meals are covered.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe types of hotel meal plans. Half-board covers a room, breakfast, and one main meal (usually dinner), giving guests flexibility for the remaining meal. Full board includes all three meals but often feels less flexible. Bed and breakfast (B&B) is the lightest option, covering only the room and morning meal — ideal for travellers who plan to eat out. All-inclusive goes furthest, bundling all meals, snacks, and drinks into one upfront price, common in resort settings. For example: 'The Watanabes booked half-board so they could try local lunch spots,' while 'Imran chose full board at the ski lodge since cooking was impossible.'

half-board ↗full board ↗bed and breakfast ↗all-inclusive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • on a half-board basis
  • at half-board rates

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'half' comes from Old English 'healf' meaning 'one of two equal parts,' combined with 'board,' which in Old English 'bord' meant 'a flat piece of wood' but later shifted to refer to a dining table and, by extension, the meals served on it. The compound 'half-board' emerged in the late 19th century as European hotels standardized meal-inclusive pricing options, offering guests the choice of full board (all meals) or half-board (breakfast plus one other meal).