albergare

Albergare is an Italian verb that means to shelter or provide lodging. It describes the act of accommodating people, animals, or objects, either temporarily or permanently. The verb is used for both places and persons, for example a house can albergare guests or a city can albergare refugees, and a hostel can albergare travelers.

Related noun forms include albergatore (male innkeeper) and albergatrice (female innkeeper). The lodging establishment itself is called an albergo, which denotes a hotel or inn. The adjective alberghiero (or albergiero in some contexts) relates to the hotel industry or to hotels in general.

In everyday Italian, albergare appears more in formal, literary, or administrative usage. More common terms for everyday speech include ospitare (to host) or fornire alloggio (to provide lodging). Examples: “La casa albergò i turisti durante i lavori” and “La città ha albergato rifugiati.” The verb emphasizes the act of providing shelter, often in a structured or temporary manner, rather than simply occupying space.

Historically, albergatori operated inns along travel routes to shelter travelers, pilgrims, and merchants. In contemporary Italy, the hospitality sector remains central to tourism and is regulated with standards and classifications for alberghi and other accommodations.