A house is not always a home, but in Spanish, la casa (lah kah-sah) is the word that can describe both a house and a home. The Spanish word el hogar (ehl-oh-gahr) is closest in meaning to “the hearth” in English. El hogar invokes the fire in a shelter where warmth and food are offered. It is a place of warmth during cold days, a place to stay dry during rain and snow, a place of repose when you’re tired, and a place of joy during the many happy events of your life.
The following phrases refer to the hearth and the home:
Hogar dulce hogar. (oh-gahr dool-seh oh-gahr) (Home sweet home.)
Especialidad de la casa (ehs-peh-seeah-lee-dahd deh lah kah-sah) (specialty of the house)
Un error grande como una casa (oon eh-rrohr grahn-deh koh-moh oo-nah kah-sah) (an immense mistake [Literally: A mistake the size of a house])
Anda como Pedro por su casa (ahn-dah koh-moh peh-droh pohr soo kah-sah) (acts like he owns the place [Literally: Goes about like Pedro in his house])
Mudarse de casa (moo-dahr-seh deh kah-sah) (to move [Literally: To change houses])