welcome home

USAGE SUMMARY

"welcome home" is an appropriate phrase to use in written English.
It can be used to greet someone who is returning home after a period of time away. For example, "we're so excited to have you back! Welcome home!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Welcome home.

The New York Times - Science

"Welcome home, my son".

The New Yorker

Brothers welcome home!

The New Yorker

"Welcome home," Dad says.

The New Yorker

Welcome home, kid.

The New Yorker

Welcome home, Jason".

The New York Times - Sports

"Welcome home, Vietnam veterans!

The New York Times

"Welcome home, buddy".

Independent

"Welcome home," Jerry said.

The New Yorker

"Welcome home, David!" he shouted.

The New Yorker

Welcome home, Mr. Handel!

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "welcome home" to create a warm and inviting atmosphere when someone returns from a trip, military service, or a long absence.

Common error

Avoid using "welcome home" in purely transactional scenarios or when greeting someone who has only been away for a very short time. Its emotional weight is best reserved for significant returns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "welcome home" functions primarily as an interjection or a greeting. It serves to acknowledge and celebrate someone's return to their residence, country, or a familiar environment, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "welcome home" is a versatile and widely used phrase that serves as a warm and inviting greeting upon someone's return. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Academia. While generally neutral in register, it leans slightly toward informal and is best reserved for significant returns to avoid misuse. Alternatives like "glad to have you back" or "it's good to see you back" can be used to vary your expression. Its frequent occurrence across authoritative sources highlights its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glad to have you back

Focuses on expressing happiness about someone's return.

we are so happy to have you back

Directly expresses happiness and gratitude for their return.

it's good to see you back

Emphasizes the pleasure of seeing someone after their absence.

how wonderful to see you back

Emphasizes the positive emotion of seeing someone return.

we missed you

Directly conveys the feeling of missing someone.

you've been missed

A passive way of saying someone was missed.

nice to have you with us again

Highlights the joy of someone rejoining a group or location.

it warms my heart to see you return

Emphasizes the personal feeling of happiness associated with their return.

pleased to see you return

A more formal way of expressing happiness at someone's return.

may your return be filled with joy

Expresses a wish for happiness upon someone's return.

FAQs

How can I use "welcome home" in a sentence?

You can say, "Roger, wheels stopped, Endeavour. Welcome home. Congratulations to you and the crew on an outstanding mission, installing the Tranquility node and opening..."

What is an alternative to saying "welcome home"?

Alternatives include "glad to have you back", "it's good to see you back", or "we missed you", depending on the situation.

Is "welcome home" formal or informal?

"Welcome home" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression, suitable for both personal and professional settings where a warm greeting is appropriate.

When is it inappropriate to use "welcome home"?

It might be inappropriate in highly formal or somber settings, or when addressing someone who has only been away briefly. Using it sarcastically could also be misconstrued.