"Custom" is a tradition or practice shared by a group or culture; "habit" is a personal behavior you repeat frequently.
Noun. A practice, tradition, or social convention shared by a group, culture, or community. It is collective.
It is a custom in many countries to shake hands when you meet someone.
En muchos paises es costumbre dar la mano cuando conoces a alguien.
Following local customs is a sign of respect when you travel.
Seguir las costumbres locales es una senial de respeto cuando viajas.
In some cultures, it is a custom to remove your shoes at the door.
En algunas culturas, es costumbre quitarse los zapatos en la puerta.
Noun. An action or behavior that a person does so frequently it becomes automatic or hard to change. It is individual.
She has a habit of biting her nails when she is nervous.
Ella tiene el habito de comerse las unas cuando esta nerviosa.
Reading before bed is a good habit to develop.
Leer antes de dormir es un buen habito que desarrollar.
He is trying to break the habit of checking his phone every five minutes.
El esta tratando de romper el habito de revisar su telefono cada cinco minutos.
Common mistake
Typical error: "In my country, we have the habit of eating together on Sundays." If it is something an entire culture or group does, "custom" is better: "In my country, we have the custom of eating together on Sundays." "Habit" is for personal, automatic behaviors. "Custom" is for shared cultural or social practices.
Trick to remember it
"Custom" = a whole culture does it (collective). "Habit" = I do it without thinking (individual). Another way to see it: if you can say "in our culture / in our country", use "custom". If you can say "I always do this", use "habit".
Quick rule
Custom = cultural or group tradition (collective). Habit = repeated personal behavior (individual).
Did you know?
"Customs" in plural also means the border control agency: "I had to go through customs at the airport." Same word, because customs originally controlled trade practices. And "customer" (client) comes from the same root: the one who habitually buys from a place.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Giving flowers on Valentine's Day is a popular _____ in many Western countries.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He has a terrible _____ of leaving his clothes on the floor.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Custom = cultural or group tradition (collective). Habit = repeated personal behavior (individual).
Typical error: "In my country, we have the habit of eating together on Sundays." If it is something an entire culture or group does, "custom" is better: "In my country, we have the custom of eating together on Sundays." "Habit" is for personal, automatic behaviors. "Custom" is for shared cultural or social practices.
"Custom" = a whole culture does it (collective). "Habit" = I do it without thinking (individual). Another way to see it: if you can say "in our culture / in our country", use "custom". If you can say "I always do this", use "habit".
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy