Make yourself at home vs Mi casa es su casa

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Make yourself at home

Top 2,000 (common)

Mi casa es su casa

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Make yourself at homeMost common: Make yourself at home
 Make yourself at homeMi casa es su casa
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //meɪk jɔːˈsɛlf æt hoʊm//🇺🇸 //meɪk jɔʊrˈsɛlf æt hoʊm//🇬🇧 //miː ˈkɑː.sə ɛs suː ˈkɑː.sə//🇺🇸 //mi kɑˈsɑ ɛs su kɑˈsɑ//
MeaningFeel comfortable in someone's house.My home is your home, a welcoming phrase.
ExampleWhen you enter, please make yourself at home and enjoy the snacks.When my friends visit, I always say, 'Mi casa es su casa.'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsmake yourself comfortable, make yourself feel welcome, make yourself at easesay 'mi casa es su casa', express hospitality, invite someone
Common mistakesUsing it in formal business settings where it feels too casual., Confusing it with 'make yourself comfortable' which has a different tone., Not using it when inviting guests over.Directly translating to English without understanding it means hospitality., Using in formal contexts where it may sound too casual., Assuming it's used in all Spanish-speaking cultures without knowing regional variations.
Usage notesUsed when welcoming someone. Suitable for informal settings, not for formal occasions. A friendly invitation.Used in friendly contexts to show hospitality. Not typically used in formal situations. Often said to make guests feel at home.

See it in real clips

Make yourself at home
Mi casa es su casa

Frequently asked questions: Make yourself at home vs Mi casa es su casa

What's the difference between Make yourself at home and Mi casa es su casa?

Make yourself at home: Feel comfortable in someone's house. Mi casa es su casa: My home is your home, a welcoming phrase.

Which is more formal: Make yourself at home and Mi casa es su casa?

Make yourself at home is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Make yourself at home and Mi casa es su casa?

Make yourself at home is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Make yourself at home: When you enter, please make yourself at home and enjoy the snacks. Mi casa es su casa: When my friends visit, I always say, 'Mi casa es su casa.'

Can I use Make yourself at home and Mi casa es su casa interchangeably?

Not always. Make yourself at home and Mi casa es su casa are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.