men make houses, women make homes

Before I start talking about today's topic, take a look at the title. Do you understand the message it conveys? If you don't, maybe you still don't quite understand the difference between home and house, words that are known as synonymous but not quite.

Before I tell you the difference between both, here's what the expression from the title means: While men are usually the ones who build houses and acquire houses for their families (I know that's changed lately with women taking over work market), women are usually the ones in charge of turning the houses into homes. In other words, giving the house a special meaning and making it the place where you can find comfort, love, safety, etc.

Let's not get into the discussion of whether or not that's true in modern society. Let's focus on the expression and how home and house differ. But I believe that after explaining you the real meaning behind that expression, now you can also understand the difference between those two verbs. But in the case you can't, here's another quick definition:

1. House describes a particular type of building.

2. Home is the place where you live and feel that you belong to.

Compare the following:

'Most people in Britain live in semi-detached houses.'

'We’re going to buy Emma a doll’s house for Christmas.'

'The Houses of Parliament in London are visited by 50,000 people each year.'

'I’ve enjoyed living abroad for the last six years, but it’s time for me to go back home now!'

'We were at home in bed when our car was stolen from outside the house.'

'These children need a good home and we are in a position to give them one.'

And before I forget, there's an awesome song that goes by the title of "a house is not a home" that couldn't explain better what a house and a home are. Many awesome singers perform that song, but here's my favorite one: