British English question

[Ichingcarpenter]

After watching many british shows I noticed
that word 'hospital' never gets the article 'a' or 'the ' before it
for example
He was released from hospital. He went to hospital. why is that?

He went to the store is normal, he went to the church but when hospital is used the article is omitted. Seems to be the only word were the article is omitted.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. also I've noticed 'in or at university'

I kinda like it! But we also say, 'I went to church.'

[pipoman]

2. and 'school'

[madaboutharry]

3. I just asked some friends of mine from the UK

about your question. They said they have no idea why they say "in hospital" and also added that the way we say "in the hospital" sounds weird to them.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. there was no use of the word 'in' hospital

that was omitted also....he went to hospital, he was released from hospital, the articles a or the are omitted. in those examples.
I thought it might be regional dialect but I've noticed it numerous times in other speakers and only with the word hospital.

[madaboutharry]

7. They will say

"John is in hospital" rather than "John is in the hospital," they omit the article in every context.

[janlyn]

4. I don't know

I have lived in the states since I was six, and I still say it that way. I also use the words, bloody and sod when I'm angry.
I have it on good authority from friends that the accent comes back as well.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. 'in hospital' is a state of being

As others note, you go 'to school' too; and in Britain, we go 'to church' (occasionally). I'm sure you'll sometimes hear "in/to/from the hospital" as well, eg "who stay at least one night in the hospital".

[guapacha]

8. It's to do with the aitch.

It's to do with the pronunciation of the aitch. If the aitch is clearly pronounced then the article may be used because the aspiration of the aitch keeps the emphasis at the beginning of the word. With a silent aitch the emphasis of the article with a short 'e' would push the emphasis onto the 'p'. If the article is used with the silent aitch it is pronounced as 'thee', the long 'e' allowing the emphasis to remain at the beginning of the word.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. so if i listen much closer I might hear the silent article?

If its written is the article put in?

He was released from the hospital.
vs He was released from hospital?

Its odd I only hear the lack of the article in the use of the word hospital and not other words, structured the same way.

anyway thanks everyone

[darkangel218]

10. They also say Casualty or A&E instead of ER.

[guapacha]

11. Formally, yes,

unless it is within quotation marks, representing speech.

Regarding muriel_volestrangler's comment, 'in hospital' and 'in the hospital' have the same meaning where as 'in school' and 'in the school' are different. The equivalent of the second one would be 'in "thee" hospital' meaning a specific place although both would be unusual.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. No, that's just made up for fun

It has nothing to do with 'h's.

[chrisstopher]

12. I thank

It's jest cuz they like talkin' funny over yonder.