Sound-alike words

Boarder vs. Border

A border is a line or edge that separates two areas, such as countries, or a strip along an edge. A boarder is a person who pays for a room and meals, or a student who lives at school.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
boarder	noun	a person who pays to live and eat in someone's home, or a student who lives at a boarding school
boarder	noun	informally, a person who rides a snowboard or skateboard
border	noun	the line that divides two countries or areas, or the edge of something
border	verb	to be next to something or form its edge

Boarder

noun: a person who pays to live and eat in someone's home, or a student who lives at a boarding school

My grandmother took in a boarder to help pay the bills.
Weekday boarders at the school can go home on Friday.

noun: informally, a person who rides a snowboard or skateboard

Skiers and boarders share the same lift on this mountain.
The skate park was full of young boarders after school.

Border

noun: the line that divides two countries or areas, or the edge of something

We showed our passports at the border with Canada.
The quilt has a blue border with small white stars.

verb: to be next to something or form its edge

Tall pine trees border the north side of the field.
The farm borders a small state park.

How to remember the difference

A boarder has board in it: they pay for room and board, or ride a board. A border has order: it keeps two areas in order, separated.

Good to know

Room and board means a room plus daily meals, which is where boarder comes from. The verb phrase border on means to come very close to, as in a joke that borders on rude.

Spot the mistake

The flower bed has a ~~boarder~~ border of white stones.
Correct: The flower bed has a border of white stones.
The family rents their spare room to a ~~border~~ boarder from the college.
Correct: The family rents their spare room to a boarder from the college.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. The river forms a natural between the two towns.

2. Each at the house gets a private room and two meals a day.