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Last updated:
December 28, 2022
Your home is made up of so many things. How can you start naming them all?
Learning the English words for all the different rooms and items in your house is a challenge.
But getting started is easy!
Below, we’ll look at basic vocabulary for talking about your house and the things in it.
Contents
- 50+ Must-Know English House Vocabulary Words
-
- English Vocabulary for the Different Parts of a House
- English Bathroom Vocabulary
-
- Bathroom Furniture and Fixtures
- Bathroom Items
- English Bedroom Vocabulary
-
- Bedroom Furniture and Fixtures
- Bedroom Items
- English Den or Living Room Vocabulary
-
- Den or Living Room Furniture and Fixtures
- Den or Living Room Items
- English Dining Room Vocabulary
-
- Dining Room Furniture and Fixtures
- Dining Room Items
- English Kitchen Vocabulary
-
- Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures
- Kitchen Items
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
50+ Must-Know English House Vocabulary Words
English Vocabulary for the Different Parts of a House
First, let’s look at some of the main rooms and parts of a house.
Rooms and houses can be a little different depending on where you live. These are parts of a typical American house that you’ll also find in a lot of other places.
Attic — A room at the highest part of a house, below the roof (see below).
Bathroom — Any room with a toilet and sink.
It’s weird, but not all bathrooms have a place where you can take a bath! A bathroom might also be called a restroom or washroom.
Basement — A level below the ground level of a house.
The basement is the whole underground space. It might be one big room or a group of smaller rooms.
Bedroom — Where the bed is, of course!
In a lot of houses, bedrooms are upstairs (on a level above the ground floor).
Den — A room with comfortable furniture for relaxing.
A den is like a living room (see below), but less fancy and more private.
Dining room — The room where meals are eaten.
Driveway — The short “road” next to a house where you can park a car or drive it into the garage.
Garage — The building where you keep a car.
You can use the word garage whether or not this building connects to the house.
Hall — A hall or hallway is the narrow (small, thin) space that connects rooms.
Kitchen — The room where you store and prepare food.
Living room — A living room is a room for relaxing or entertaining guests.
In English-speaking countries, this room is often located toward the front of the house. In the U.K., it’s sometimes called the sitting room.
Porch — A covered outdoor space.
A porch can be at the front, back or side of a house.
Sometimes porches will be less like open spaces and more like rooms with lots of screened windows (that let air in but keep bugs out!).
Roof — The covering on the top of a house.
Roofs come in different shapes and styles, but the most common kind in the U.S. and the U.K. (and a lot of other places) is a gable roof. A gable roof has two flat surfaces that tilt up and come together, making a triangle. The space under the roof in this triangle area is usually where the attic is.
Stairs/stairway — The set of steps that connect different levels of a house.
Yard — The outdoor area at the front, back or side of a house.
In the U.K., people call a yard a garden. In the U.S., a garden is a part of a yard for growing plants, like flowers or vegetables.
As you can see, many parts of the house have two different names. For example, a yard can be a garden. A living room can be a den.
English Bathroom Vocabulary
Now that we know what the different parts of a house are, let’s look at some furniture and objects you might find in the most common rooms of a house.
Bathroom Furniture and Fixtures
By the way, furniture usually means bigger objects around a house that you might sit on, lie on or put things on.
But in some rooms, like the bathroom, the furniture you find might be more like a part of the room (something attached to the wall or floor). A piece of furniture like this is called a fixture.
Bathtub — The large container you fill with water to take a bath.
Most bathtubs have a faucet or tap (where water comes out) and a shower head that sprays water from above.
Counter — Almost any raised, fixed surface that you use while standing.
Since you usually find counters in kitchens and bathrooms, they’re made of material that’s easy to clean.
Mirror — The glass surface where you can see yourself (your reflection).
Shower — A shower stall, or a small room where you can shower.
Shower can mean a shower head, a shower stall or a shower that you take.
You might say to someone, “Can I use your shower? Because I really need a shower!”
Sink — The basin or bowl fixture where you wash your hands.
Toilet — A fixture with a bowl, a seat, a lid and a handle for flushing water down the bowl. You know what it’s for!
Bathroom Items
Toilet paper — The soft, rolled paper that you use to clean yourself after using the toilet.
Toothbrush — The small brush you use to clean your teeth.
Towel — A cloth you use to dry yourself.
Hand towels are smaller towels that you use to dry your hands. Bath towels are the large towels you use to dry your whole body.
Soap — Soap can mean hand soap, which is usually foaming (bubbly) stuff in a container that you can use to wash your hands at the sink. It can also mean a bar of soap you use to clean yourself in the bath or shower.
Washcloth — A small cloth for cleaning yourself in the bath or shower.
English Bedroom Vocabulary
Bedroom Furniture and Fixtures
Bed — A mattress (the soft surface where you sleep) in a bed frame (which holds the mattress).
A bed can also just be a mattress on the floor.
Closet — A small room where you can hang clothes.
Dresser — A piece of furniture with drawers where you keep folded clothes.
Wardrobe — A tall piece of furniture with doors that you hang clothes inside.
Bedroom Items
Comforter/quilt/bedspread — A covering that goes on the top of a bed.
Comforters, quilts and bedspreads are all a little different, but a lot of people don’t know the difference!
Lamp — Any light with a lightbulb and cord that plugs into the wall.
Lamps usually sit on furniture or the floor.
Pillow — A pillow on a bed is usually where you put your head when you sleep.
You might also see throw pillows on a bed or elsewhere. These are more for decoration and making areas comfortable.
Sheets — The thin coverings that go over the mattress, but under the top covering (bedspread, quilt, etc.).
A fitted sheet stretches over a mattress, and a top sheet covers a person sleeping in a bed.
English Den or Living Room Vocabulary
Den or Living Room Furniture and Fixtures
Armchair — A large, stuffed chair that has arms, or raised areas where you can rest your arms.
Coffee table — A low table, usually placed in front of a couch.
You can put your coffee (or another drink) here. You might also keep newspapers, magazines and a TV remote here.
Couch — A long, stuffed piece of furniture with arms. Some people might call a couch a sofa.
Side/end table — A side table, or end table, is a table meant to sit next to a couch or an armchair. Like with a coffee table, you can place drinks or other items here.
Den or Living Room Items
Television/TV — Television or TV can refer to the device with the screen you use to watch movies or shows. It can also refer to TV shows in a larger way.
For example, you might say to your friend, “Hey, can we go over to your house and watch TV?” and your friend might say, “Actually, no, because my TV is broken.”
TV remote/remote control — The controller for the TV that lets you turn it off or on and change channels.
Rug — A soft, decorative covering that goes on the floor.
You might find a rug anywhere in a house, but they’re often in dens and living rooms.
Carpet and rug can mean the same thing, but usually carpet means a covering for the whole floor, while a rug is smaller (and might go on top of a carpet).
English Dining Room Vocabulary
A dining room is normally a room that you only eat in—usually, you don’t really do anything else in this room.
Dining Room Furniture and Fixtures
Dining room table — A table meant for eating, usually large enough to fit chairs for at least four people.
Dining Room Items
Cups — Any drinking container made of anything except clear (see-through) glass.
For example, coffee cups or tea cups.
Dish — A dish can be almost any kind of item that you eat food off of or serve food on.
A plate is a flat dish, while bowl is only used to refer to a deep dish for holding soups or stews.
Glass — Any kind of drinking container made of glass.
Napkin — A cloth that you place on your lap while eating or use to wipe your mouth.
Silverware — Utensils (tools) for eating, including forks, spoons and knives.
Silverware might also be called cutlery or flatware.
English Kitchen Vocabulary
Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures
Cabinets — Cabinets are the storage spaces with doors you find in a kitchen, where you might keep food and cooking equipment.
Floor — Every room in a house has a floor that you walk on, because if it didn’t you’d fall into the room below!
But you might talk about the kitchen floor the most, because it usually needs to be cleaned more than other floors.
Oven — The closed space used for baking (making foods like bread by heating them inside an oven).
In most kitchens, the oven is found under the stove.
Pantry — A pantry can be a larger cabinet or a whole separate room or closet. It’s wherever you keep your non-perishables, or food that doesn’t go bad easily and doesn’t need to be kept cold.
You might also keep seasonings, spices and other flavorings in your pantry.
Refrigerator — Food that needs to be kept cold is stored in the refrigerator.
Most refrigerators have an attached freezer for keeping food frozen.
Stove — The surface you use for cooking or heating food.
Kitchen Items
Coffeemaker — There are lots of ways to make coffee, but a coffeemaker is the machine you plug in that makes your coffee by dripping it through a filter.
Kettle — A kettle is used for heating water, usually for tea.
This can refer to an electric kettle, which you plug in, or a stovetop kettle, which you use to heat water on the stove.
A kettle is different from a teapot, which is where you make the tea once the water is ready.
Microwave — A small oven that heats food really fast!
You can say microwave or microwave oven.
Pots and pans — A pan can also be called a skillet, and is used for frying things on the stove, like eggs. A pot is a deeper metal container used for heating food on the stove. A saucepan is deep like a pot, but usually has a handle that sticks out.
A lot of people don’t know the difference between a pot and a saucepan, so it’s not that important.
Toaster — A toaster is a machine with slots (small open spaces) for toasting bread.
This is different from a toaster oven, which is really just a small oven you can plug in on your kitchen counter.
This vocabulary only covers a few of the possible rooms and items you might find in a house, but learning it is a great start!
To memorize these words quickly, you should use them as often as you can. Try to immerse yourself in English and make the language part of your daily life. Pretend like you’re living in an English-speaking country, where you’d call all your house items by their English names and you are surrounded by English content.
You can look out for house vocabulary in English media, like movies and podcasts. Immersion language learning programs can also help. One example is FluentU, which uses English videos made for and by native speakers. Each clip has tools like interactive subtitles and quizzes, so that you can understand English vocabulary and how they’re used in context.
The more you make yourself use English for everyday matters like house furniture, the faster you can improve your English skills.
And there’s no place like home to start building your fluency!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Русско-английский глоссарий по теме «Дом»
| Русское слово | English Word | Transcription |
| балкон | balcony | [ ˈbælkəni ] |
| бриться / побриться | to (have a) shave | [ tə həv ə ʃeɪv ] |
| будильник | alarm clock | [ əˈlɑːm ˈklɒk ] |
| ваза | vase | [ vɑːz ] |
| ванна | bath (tub) | [ bɑːθ tʌb ] |
| ванная | bathroom | [ ˈbɑːθruːm ] |
| ведро | bucket | [ ˈbʌkɪt ] |
| вешать / повесить бельё | to hang out / up the washing / laundry | [ tə hæŋ aʊt / ʌp ðə ˈwɒʃɪŋ / ˈlɔːndri ] |
| видеомагнитофон | video (cassette) recorder, video | [ ˈvɪdɪəʊ kəˈset rɪˈkɔːdə ] [ ˈvɪdɪəʊ ] |
| включать / включить | to turn / switch on; to plug in | [ tə tɜːn / swɪtʃ ɒn ] [ tə plʌɡ ɪn ] |
| вставать / встать | to get up, to rise | [ tə ˈɡet ʌp ] [ tə raɪz ] |
| выключатель | switch | [ swɪtʃ ] |
| выключать / выключить | to turn / switch off; to unplug | [ tə tɜːn / swɪtʃ ɒf ] [ tu ʌnˈplʌɡ ] |
| вытирать / вытереть | to wipe (clean); to (rub) dry | [ tə waɪp kliːn ] [ tə rʌb draɪ ] |
| газон | lawn | [ lɔːn ] |
| гараж | garage | [ ˈɡærɑːʒ ] |
| гардероб | wardrobe | [ ˈwɔːdrəʊb ] |
| гладить / погладить | to iron, to press | [ tu ˈaɪən ] [ tə pres ] |
| гостиная | living / sitting room, lounge | [ˈlɪvɪŋ / ˈsɪtɪŋ ruːm ] [laʊndʒ] |
| грязный | dirty, filthy | [ ˈdɜːti ] [ ˈfɪlθi ] |
| грязь | mud; dirt, filth | [ mʌd ] [ dɜːt ] [ fɪlθ ] |
| дверь | door | [ dɔː ] |
| дом | house; block of flats | [ ˈhaʊs ] [ ˈblɒk əv flæts ] |
| дома | at home | [ ət həʊm ] |
| духовка | oven | [ ˈʌvn̩ ] |
| душ | shower | [ ˈʃaʊə ] |
| забор | fence | [ fens ] |
| задёрнуть занавески | to close / draw the curtains | [ tə kləʊz / drɔː ðə ˈkɜːtn̩z ] |
| закрывать / закрыть | to close, to shut | [ tə kləʊz ] [ tə ʃʌt ] |
| замок | lock | [ lɒk ] |
| занавеска | curtain | [ ˈkɜːtn̩ ] |
| засыпать / заснуть | to go to sleep; to fall asleep | [ tə ɡəʊ tə sliːp ] [ tə fɔːl əˈsliːp ] |
| зеркало | mirror | [ ˈmɪrə ] |
| кабинет | study | [ ˈstʌdi ] |
| камин | fireplace | [ ˈfaɪəpleɪs ] |
| картина | picture | [ ˈpɪktʃə ] |
| квартира | flat, apartment | [ flæt ] [ əˈpɑːtmənt ] |
| ключ | key | [ kiː ] |
| книжный шкаф | bookcase | [ ˈbʊk keɪs ] |
| ковёр | carpet, rug, mat | [ ˈkɑːpɪt ] [ rʌɡ ] [ mæt ] |
| комната | room | [ ruːm ] |
| комод | chest of drawers | [ tʃest əv drɔːəz ] |
| красить / покрасить | to paint | [ tə peɪnt ] |
| кресло | armchair | [ ˈɑːmtʃeə ] |
| кровать | bed | [ bed ] |
| крыша | roof | [ ruːf ] |
| кухня | kitchen | [ ˈkɪtʃɪn ] |
| лестница | stairs, staircase; ladder | [ steəz ] [ˈsteəkeɪs ] [ˈlædə ] |
| ложиться / лечь | to lie down | [ tə laɪ daʊn ] |
| ложиться / лечь спать | to go to bed | [ tə ɡəʊ tə bed ] |
| магнитофон | tape recorder, cassette recorder / player | [ teɪp rɪˈkɔːdə ] [ kəˈset rɪˈkɔːdə / ˈpleɪə ] |
| мебель | furniture | [ ˈfɜːnɪtʃə ] |
| метла | broom, brush | [ bruːm ] [ brʌʃ ] |
| микроволновая печь | microwave (oven) | [ ˈmaɪkrəweɪv ˈʌvn̩ ] |
| морозильник | freezer | [ ˈfriːzə ] |
| мусорный ящик | (rubbish) bin, dustbin | [ ˈrʌbɪʃ bɪn ] [ ˈdʌstbɪn ] |
| мыло | soap | [ səʊp ] |
| мыться / вымыться | to wash (oneself), to have a wash | [ tə wɒʃ wʌnˈself ] [ tə həv ə wɒʃ ] |
| на улице | outside, outdoors | [ ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ] [ ˌaʊtˈdɔːz ] |
| нагреватель | heater | [ ˈhiːtə ] |
| ножницы | scissors | [ ˈsɪzəz ] |
| обои | wallpaper | [ ˈwɔːlpeɪpə ] |
| одеяло | blanket | [ ˈblæŋkɪt ] |
| окно | window | [ ˈwɪndəʊ ] |
| открыть занавески | to open / draw the curtains | [ tu ˈəʊpən / drɔː ðə ˈkɜːtn̩z ] |
| открывать / открыть | to open | [ tu ˈəʊpən ] |
| письменный стол | (writing) desk | [ ˈraɪtɪŋ desk ] |
| плита | cooker, stove | [ ˈkʊkə ] [ stəʊv ] |
| подоконник | window sill / ledge | [ ˈwɪndəʊ sɪl / ledʒ ] |
| подушка | pillow; cushion | [ ˈpɪləʊ ] [ ˈkʊʃn̩ ] |
| пол | floor | [ flɔː ] |
| полка | shelf | [ ʃelf ] |
| полотенце | towel | [ ˈtaʊəl ] |
| посудомоечная машина | dishwasher | [ ˈdɪʃwɒʃə ] |
| потолок | ceiling | [ ˈsiːlɪŋ ] |
| принимать / принять ванну | to have / take a bath | [ tə həv / teɪk ə bɑːθ ] |
| принимать / принять душ | to have / take a shower | [ tə həv / teɪk ə ˈʃaʊə ] |
| причёсываться / причесаться | to do / brush / comb one’s hair | [ tə də / brʌʃ / kəʊm wʌnz heə ] |
| CD/DVD-проигрыватель | CD/DVD-player | [ ˌsiːˈdiː / ˌdiviˈdiː ˈpleɪə ] |
| просторный | spacious, roomy | [ ˈspeɪʃəs ] [ ˈruːmi ] |
| простыня | sheet | [ ʃiːt ] |
| просыпаться | to wake (up) | [ tə weɪk ʌp ] |
| пылесос | vacuum cleaner, hoover | [ ˈvækjʊəm ˈkliːnə ] [ˈhuːvə ] |
| пылесосить | to vacuum, to hoover | [ tə ˈvækjʊəm ] [ tə ˈhuːvə ] |
| пыль | dust | [ dʌst ] |
| пыльный | dusty | [ ˈdʌsti ] |
| радиатор | radiator | [ ˈreɪdɪeɪtə ] |
| радио | radio | [ ˈreɪdɪəʊ ] |
| раковина | sink, washbasin | [ sɪŋk ] [ ˈwɒʃbeɪsn̩ ] |
| розетка | (electric) socket, power point | [ ɪˈlektrɪk ˈsɒkɪt ] [ ˈpaʊə pɔɪnt ] |
| сад | garden | [ ˈɡɑːdn̩ ] |
| садиться / сесть | to sit down | [ tə sɪt daʊn ] |
| светлый | light, bright | [ laɪt ] [ braɪt ] |
| спальня | bedroom | [ ˈbedruːm ] |
| стена | wall | [ wɔːl ] |
| стиральная машина | washing machine | [ ˈwɒʃɪŋ məˈʃiːn ] |
| стирать / выстирать бельё | to do the washing / laundry | [ tə də ðə ˈwɒʃɪŋ / ˈlɔːndri ] |
| стол | table | [ ˈteɪbl̩ ] |
| столовая | dining room | [ ˈdaɪnɪŋ ruːm ] |
| строить / построить | to build | [ tə bɪld ] |
| стул | chair | [ tʃeə ] |
| телевизор | television (set), TV (set) | [ ˈtelɪˌvɪʒn̩ set ] [ ˌtiːˈviː set ] |
| телефон | telephone | [ ˈtelɪfəʊn ] |
| тёмный | dark | [ dɑːk ] |
| тряпка | cloth, rag; duster | [ klɒθ ] [ ræɡ ] [ ˈdʌstə ] |
| туалет | toilet | [ ˈtɔɪlɪt ] |
| туалетный столик | dressing table | [ ˈdresɪŋ ˈteɪbl̩ ] |
| убирать / убрать комнату | to tidy a / the room | [ tə ˈtaɪdi ə / ðə ruːm ] |
| убирать / убрать постель | to make a / the bed | [ tə ˈmeɪk ə / ðə bed ] |
| удобный | comfortable; convenient | [ ˈkʌmftəbl̩ ] [ kənˈviːnɪənt ] |
| утюг | iron | [ ˈaɪən ] |
| холодильник | refrigerator, fridge | [ rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə ] [ frɪdʒ ] |
| центральное отопление | central heating | [ ˈsentrəl ˈhiːtɪŋ ] |
| чистить / почистить зубы | to clean / brush one’s teeth | [ tə kliːn / brʌʃ wʌnz tiːθ ] |
| чистый | clean | [ kliːn ] |
| шампунь | shampoo | [ ʃæmˈpuː ] |
| шкаф | cupboard | [ ˈkʌbəd ] |
| штора | blind | [ blaɪnd ] |
| щётка | brush | [ brʌʃ ] |
| этаж | floor, storey | [ flɔː ] [ ˈstɔːri ] |
| ящик | drawer | [ drɔːə ] |
Англо-русский глоссарий по теме «Дом»
| English Word | Transcription | Русское слово |
| adjacent | [ əˈdʒeɪsnt ] | примыкающий |
| adorn | [ əˈdɔːn ] | украшать |
| alcove | [ ˈælkəʊv ] | альков, ниша |
| appliance | [ əˈplaɪəns ] | приспособление, устройство, прибор |
| armchair | [ ˈɑːmtʃeə ] | кресло |
| apartment | [ əˈpɑːtmənt ] | квартира |
| balcony | [ ˈbælkəni ] | балкон |
| bathroom | [ ˈbɑːθruːm ] | ванная комната |
| basement | [ ˈbeɪsmənt ] | подвал, фундамент |
| be crammed up with furniture | [ bi kræmd ʌp wɪð ˈfɜːnɪtʃə ] | быть заставленным мебелью |
| be cramped for space | [ bi kræmpt fə speɪs ] | мало места |
| be short of light | [ bi ʃɔːt əv laɪt ] | мало света |
| bedroom | [ ˈbedruːm ] | спальня |
| bedside table | [ ˈbedsaɪd ˈteɪbl̩ ] | тумбочка |
| bedspread | [ ˈbedspred ] | покрывало |
| blind | [ blaɪnd ] | штора |
| block of flats | [ ˈblɒk əv flæts ] | многоквартирный дом |
| block out the light | [ ˈblɒk aʊt ðə laɪt ] | загораживать свет |
| bookcase | [ ˈbʊk keɪs ] | книжный шкаф |
| building | [ ˈbɪldɪŋ ] | здание |
| building society | [ ˈbɪldɪŋ səˈsaɪəti ] | строительное общество |
| bungalow | [ ˈbʌŋɡələʊ ] | бунгало |
| bunk bed | [ bʌŋk bed ] | двухъярусная кровать |
| camp bed | [ kæmp bed ] | раскладушка |
| carpet | [ ˈkɑːpɪt ] | ковёр |
| ceiling | [ ˈsiːlɪŋ ] | потолок |
| cellar | [ ˈselə ] | подвал, погреб |
| central heating | [ ˈsentrəl ˈhiːtɪŋ ] | центральное отопление |
| chair | [ tʃeə ] | стул |
| chandelier | [ ˌʃændəˈlɪə ] | люстра |
| chest of drawers | [ tʃest əv drɔːəz ] | комод |
| china | [ ˈtʃaɪnə ] | фарфор |
| closet | [ ˈklɒzɪt ] | стенной шкаф, чулан |
| coat rack | [ ˈkəʊt ræk ] | вешалка |
| coffee table | [ ˈkɒfi ˈteɪbl̩ ] | журнальный столик |
| convenience | [ kənˈviːnɪəns ] | удобство |
| cosy | [ ˈkəʊzi ] | уютный |
| cooker | [ ˈkʊkə ] | плита |
| cooker hood | [ ˈkʊkə hʊd ] | вытяжка |
| corridor | [ ˈkɒrɪdɔː ] | коридор |
| cottage | [ ˈkɒtɪdʒ ] | коттедж, домик |
| country-house | [ ˌkʌntriˈhaʊs ] | загородный дом |
| cover with dust sheets | [ ˈkʌvə wɪð dʌst ʃiːts ] | покрыть чехлами (о мебели) |
| cover | [ ˈkʌvə ] | покрывало |
| crammed up with things | [ kræmd ʌp wɪð ˈθɪŋz ] | забитый вещами |
| crockery | [ ˈkrɒkəri ] | фарфоровая и фаянсовая посуда |
| crystal | [ ˈkrɪstl̩ ] | хрусталь |
| cupboard | [ ˈkʌbəd ] | шкаф, сервант |
| curtain | [ ˈkɜːtn̩ ] | занавеска |
| curtain rail | [ ˈkɜːtn̩ reɪl ] | карниз |
| cushion | [ ˈkʊʃn̩ ] | диванная подушка |
| cutlery | [ ˈkʌtləri ] | ножевые изделия, металлические столовые приборы |
| decorate | [ ˈdekəreɪt ] | оформлять, украшать |
| detached house | [ dɪˈtætʃt ˈhaʊs ] | отдельный дом |
| dining room | [ ˈdaɪnɪŋ ruːm ] | столовая |
| dinner set | [ ˈdɪnə set ] | столовый сервиз |
| dish-drainer | [ dɪʃ ˈdreɪnə ] | сушилка для посуды |
| do the decorating | [ də ðə ˈdekəreɪtɪŋ ] | делать косметический ремонт |
| door-handle | [ ˈdɔːhændl̩ ] | дверная ручка |
| double bed | [ ˈdʌbl̩ bed ] | двуспальная кровать |
| drawing room | [ ˈdrɔːɪŋ ruːm ] | гостиная |
| dressing-table | [ ˈdresɪŋ teɪbl̩ ] | туалетный столик |
| drive in a nail | [ draɪv ɪn ə neɪl ] | забить гвоздь |
| dustbin | [ ˈdʌstbɪn ] | мусорное ведро |
| dwelling | [ ˈdwelɪŋ ] | жилище |
| entrance | [ ɪnˈtrɑːns ] | вход |
| fail to operate | [ feɪl tu ˈɒpəreɪt ] | сломаться |
| feel at home | [ fiːl ət həʊm ] | чувствовать себя как дома |
| fence | [ fens ] | забор |
| fitted carpet | [ ˈfɪtɪd ˈkɑːpɪt ] | палас, ковровое покрытие |
| fireplace | [ ˈfaɪəpleɪs ] | камин |
| flight of stairs | [ flaɪt əv steəz ] | лестничный пролёт |
| floor (parquet, polished) | [ flɔː ˈpɑːkeɪ ] ˈpɒlɪʃt ] | пол (паркетный, натёртый) |
| floor polisher | [ flɔː ˈpɒlɪʃə ] | полотёр |
| flowered | [ ˈflaʊəd ] | цветастый |
| fluorescent lamp | [ flʊəˈresnt læmp ] | лампа дневного света |
| flush-toilet | [ flʌʃ ˈtɔɪlɪt ] | унитаз |
| freezer | [ ˈfriːzə ] | морозильная камера |
| fridge | [ frɪdʒ ] | холодильник |
| front of the house | [ frʌnt əv ðə ˈhaʊs ] | фасад дома |
| focus of the room | [ ˈfəʊkəs əv ðə ruːm ] | центральное место в комнате |
| furnish | [ ˈfɜːnɪʃ ] | меблировать |
| furniture | [ ˈfɜːnɪtʃə ] | мебель |
| garage | [ ˈɡærɑːʒ ] | гараж |
| get rickety | [ ˈɡet ˈrɪkəti ] | расшататься (о мебели) |
| hall | [ hɔːl ] | прихожая |
| hangings | [ ˈhæŋɪŋz ] | портьеры |
| hedge | [ hedʒ ] | изгородь |
| home | [ həʊm ] | дом, домашний очаг |
| houseplant | [ ˈhaʊsplɑːnt ] | комнатное растение |
| housewarming party | [ ˈhaʊs ˈwɔːmɪŋ ˈpɑːti ] | новоселье |
| interior | [ ɪnˈtɪərɪə ] | интерьер |
| keyhole | [ ˈkiːhəʊl ] | замочная скважина |
| kitchen | [ ˈkɪtʃɪn ] | кухня |
| know where things go | [ nəʊ weə ˈθɪŋz ɡəʊ ] | знать, где что лежит |
| lamp | [ læmp ] | лампа |
| lavatory | [ ˈlævətr̩i ] | туалет |
| let a flat | [ let ə flæt ] | сдавать квартиру |
| lift | [ lɪft ] | лифт |
| lights fuse / go out | [ laɪts fjuːz / ɡəʊ aʊt ] | лампочки перегорают |
| linoleum | [ lɪˈnəʊlɪəm ] | линолеум |
| living room | [ ˈlɪvɪŋ ruːm ] | гостиная |
| look out onto … | [ lʊk aʊt ˈɒntu ] | выходить на … (об окнах) |
| lounge | [ laʊndʒ ] | гостиная |
| lustre | [ ˈlʌstə ] | люстра |
| mansion | [ ˈmænʃn̩ ] | особняк, большой дом |
| mat | [ mæt ] | коврик, циновка |
| mixer tap | [ ˈmɪksə tæp ] | смеситель, кран |
| modem accomodations | [ ˈməʊdem əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃn̩z ] | современные удобства |
| mortgage | [ ˈmɔːɡɪdʒ ] | ссуда, заём (при покупке дома), ипотека |
| move in/to | [ muːv ɪn tuː ] | въезжать, переезжать |
| move the furniture around | [ muːv ðə ˈfɜːnɪtʃər əˈraʊnd ] | передвигать мебель |
| neighbour | [ ˈneɪbə ] | сосед |
| nursery | [ ˈnɜːsəri ] | детская комната |
| one / two /…-room flat | [ wʌn / tuː / ruːm flæt ] | одно / двух /… комнатная квартира |
| one /two /…-storeyed house | [ wʌn / tuː / ˈstɔːrɪd ˈhaʊs ] | одно / двух /…этажный дом |
| oven | [ ˈʌvn̩ ] | духовка |
| owner | [ ˈəʊnə ] | владелец, собственник |
| palace | [ ˈpælɪs ] | дворец |
| papered | [ ˈpeɪpəd ] | оклеенный обоями |
| parquet | [ ˈpɑːkeɪ ] | паркет |
| patterned | [ ˈpætn̩d ] | с рисунком |
| pillow | [ ˈpɪləʊ ] | подушка |
| pillow-case | [ ˈpɪləʊkeɪs ] | наволочка |
| pipes get clogged | [ paɪps ˈɡet klɒɡd ] | трубы засоряются |
| plain | [ pleɪn ] | однотонный (о ткани) |
| portable | [ ˈpɔːtəbl̩ ] | переносной |
| put things right | [ ˈpʊt ˈθɪŋz raɪt ] | починить, исправить |
| quilt | [ kwɪlt ] | стёганое одеяло |
| radiator | [ ˈreɪdɪeɪtə ] | батарея центрального отопления |
| real estate agency | [ rɪəl ɪˈsteɪt ˈeɪdʒənsi ] | агентство недвижимости |
| refrigerator | [ rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə ] | холодильник |
| refuse-chute | [ ‘refjuːs ʃuːt ] | мусоропровод |
| renovate | [ ˈrenəveɪt ] | подновлять, ремонтировать, реконструировать |
| repair | [ rɪˈpeə ] | ремонт |
| room | [ ruːm ] | комната |
| rent a flat | [ rent ə flæt ] | снимать квартиру |
| rug | [ rʌɡ ] | пушистый коврик |
| running water | [ ˈrʌnɪŋ ˈwɔːtə ] | водопровод |
| self-contained flat | [ ˌself kənˈteɪnd flæt ] | отдельная квартира |
| semi-detached house | [ ˌsemɪdɪˈtætʃt ˈhaʊs ] | один из двух домов под общей крышей |
| share a room with smb. | [ ʃeər ə ruːm wɪð ] | проживать в одной комнате с кем-либо |
| sheet | [ ʃiːt ] | простыня |
| shift | [ ʃɪft ] | передвигать |
| show the dirt | [ ʃəʊ ðə dɜːt ] | пачкаться |
| single bed | [ ˈsɪŋɡl̩ bed ] | односпальная кровать |
| sink | [ sɪŋk ] | раковина (на кухне) |
| sky-scraper | [ ˈskaɪˌskreɪpə ] | небоскрёб |
| sofa | [ ˈsəʊfə ] | диван |
| sewing-machine | [ ˈsəʊɪŋ məʃiːn ] | швейная машина |
| space | [ speɪs ] | место, пространство |
| spacious | [ ˈspeɪʃəs ] | просторный |
| spyhole | [ ˈspaɪhəʊl ] | дверной глазок |
| stack chairs | [ stæk tʃeəz ] | составлять стулья |
| standard lamp | [ ˈstændəd læmp ] | торшер |
| statuette | [ ˌstætʃʊˈet ] | статуэтка |
| stereo system | [ ˈsterɪəʊ ˈsɪstəm ] | стереосистема |
| stool | [ stuːl ] | табурет |
| storeroom | [ ˈstɔːruːm ] | кладовая |
| stove | [ stəʊv ] | плита, печь |
| tap | [ tæp ] | кран |
| tea set | [ tiː set ] | чайный сервиз |
| three quarter bed | [ θriː ˈkwɔːtə bed ] | полутораспальная кровать |
| TV set | [ ˌtiːˈviː set ] | телевизор |
| throw open | [ ˈθrəʊ ˈəʊpən ] | распахнуть |
| threshold | [ ˈθreʃhəʊld ] | порог |
| tiled | [ taɪld ] | покрытый кафельной плиткой |
| toilet | [ ˈtɔɪlɪt ] | туалет |
| tubular steel chair | [ ˈtjuːbjʊlə stiːl tʃeə ] | стул с алюминиевыми ножками |
| unlock the door | [ ʌnˈlɒk ðə dɔː ] | отпереть дверь |
| upholstered furniture | [ ˌʌpˈhəʊlstəd ˈfɜːnɪtʃə ] | мягкая мебель |
| upholstery | [ ˌʌpˈhəʊlstəri ] | обивка |
| utensil | [ juːˈtensɪl ] | посуда, утварь |
| vacuum cleaner | [ ˈvækjʊəm ˈkliːnə ] | пылесос |
| vegetable cutter | [ ˈvedʒɪtəbl̩ ˈkʌtə ] | овощерезка |
| waffle-maker | [ ˈwɒfəl ˈmeɪkə ] | вафельница |
| wall lamp | [ wɔːl læmp ] | бра |
| wall-paper | [ ˈwɔːlpeɪpə ] | обои |
| wall units | [ wɔːl ˈjuːnɪts ] | стенка |
| wardrobe | [ ˈwɔːdrəʊb ] | шкаф |
| washing machine | [ ˈwɒʃɪŋ məˈʃiːn ] | стиральная машина |
| wash-basin | [ ˈwɒʃbeɪsn̩ ] | (умывальный) таз, умывальная раковина |
| washing wall-paper | [ ˈwɒʃɪŋ ˈwɔːlpeɪpə ] | моющиеся обои |
| whitewash | [ ˈwaɪtwɒʃ ] | побелка; белить, делать побелку |
| window-sill | [ ˈwɪndəʊsɪl ] | подоконник |
| yard | [ jɑːd ] | двор |
Здесь можно посмотреть, послушать и запомнить названия предметов в доме на английском языке.
Accommodation & Home Vocabulary
Learning
home vocabulary is a must because ‘your home’ is one of the five topics in Part
1 of the IELTS Speaking test that you could be asked about. You may also need
to talk about homes or different types of accommodation in Speaking Parts 2 and
3 and the topic could come up in the Writing, Reading or Listening
sections of the exam as well.
So, let’s make sure you’re well prepared.
Here are a few things you could be asked about:
- What your home is like
- Your favourite room or aspect
of your home
- What you’d like to change
- Your ideal home
- Someone else’s home you’ve visited
- The advantages/disadvantages of renting/buying
- Environmentally friendly homes
- Homes of the future
This page includes over 100
common words and phrases related to accommodation and homes. I’ve added an
explanation for each one and a sample sentence to show it in context. This will
help you to learn how to use it correctly.
Don’t try to learn them all.
Look at my suggestions below as to the best way to use this comprehensive list
of home vocabulary.
Also check out my Buildings & Architecure Vocabulary page for related words.
Relaxing at home.
To ensure that you’re ready to answer any accommodation or home-related questions, I’ve included four things here:
- IELTS-style questions on the topic of homes
- Sample answers
- A list of common home
vocabulary with definitions & sample sentences
- Links to online reading and listening
resources
You’ll find PDF downloads of
both the questions and sample answers and the accommodation and home vocabulary
list at the bottom of the respective sections.
The questions relate to the
Speaking test because this part of the exam offers the broadest range of
possible questions on this topic. They give the best opportunity for me to
demonstrate the vocabulary and for you to practise using it.
I’ve included IELTS-style
questions and answers for all three parts of the Speaking test. I’ve
highlighted keywords and phrases in bold.
You’ll find these words and
phrases, and many others, in the vocabulary list beneath. The list also
includes explanations and sample sentences and there’s an audio to listen to
the pronunciation.
The home vocabulary list
contains words and phrases relevant to all parts of the IELTS exam.
Finally, at the bottom of
the page, I’ve added links to topical articles, short videos and podcasts that
will help you to improve both your accommodation and home vocabulary and your
reading and listening skills.
IELTS-Style
Speaking Test Questions and Answers
Common accommodation and home vocabulary
is highlighted in bold.
Part 1
1) What kind of property do you live in?
My home is a semi-detached bungalow.
2) How long have you lived there?
I moved in on my 21st birthday and I’m nearly 25 now so I’ve been there for almost four years.
3)
Do you plan to live there for a long time?
Buying
and selling a house is very stressful and I said that I would never do it again
after last time. Besides, I love my home so
think I will stay there forever.
4) Is there anything about your house you would like to
change?
Not really. I have thought about doing a loft conversion to
give me another bedroom for when friends come to stay but that’s all.
5) What’s the difference between where you live now and your last home?
I used to live
in an apartment by the sea. It had a wonderful view but no garden. Now I have a large
lawn surrounded by a high hedge, and a
patio where I like to sit in the sun. I’m very happy to have a garden again.
Semi-detached houses.
Part 2
Describe a home you have
visited that you really liked.
You should say:
- where it was
- whose house or
apartment it was - what it was
like
and explain why you liked
it.
A
few years ago I saw a photo in the window of an estate agent of a fabulous property
in a village quite near to where I live. It was my idea of a dream home so I just had to have a look
around it. I felt a bit bad about doing this as I knew I couldn’t afford the house. I’ve never done anything like it
before, or since.
The
house itself was quite modern. It had three bedrooms, separate kitchen and dining rooms
and a spacious lounge. It was mostly
carpeted and the large windows let
in plenty of natural light. There
was also a utility room and a double
garage. It was actually a fairly
ordinary house but would have made a
lovely home and it certainly felt cosy.
All
the windows had wonderful views over the surrounding countryside which is
something I would make a priority if I was house-hunting
for real. The owners said that they often saw deer out on the hillsides.
All
this was very nice, but I haven’t told you about the best part of the property yet, the garden. That’s what had attracted me in the photo. It was amazing
and exactly what I would love to own. For a start, it was huge. There was a
large area of lawn, several pretty
flower beds and a terrace sheltered
by a fence. Even better than that was
the stream running through the garden
into a big pond with ducks on it. I wish I had that in my garden. You crossed the stream via a little wooden bridge that led
to a small field that was also part of the property.
It was perfect.
The
location of the house was also ideal.
It was down a small lane on the outskirts of the village. I know the village
well and it’s a close-knit community,
something else that would be important to me if I was thinking of moving house. While the area is beautiful countryside,
the beach is only 15 minutes away so it has the best of both worlds.
I’m
glad I visited the property. One day
I’ll buy a home like it but for now,
I’ll just keep dreaming.
Many people’s idea of a dream home is a modern house by the ocean.
Part 3
1) What are the
advantages of living in a house compared to an apartment?
I’d say
that the biggest advantage is that you don’t have people living above and below
you as you do in a flat. Noisy neighbours can be a real problem if you
live in an apartment block.
Secondly, most
apartments don’t have a garden, although some do have a communal
outdoor that all the residents share. That was what I missed most when I lived
in a block of flats. It was the main reason I decided to move to a house.
Finally, a
house feels more like a home of your own, even if you rent it, as you
aren’t sharing any part of the building with other people.
2) Do you think that everyone would like to live in a larger
home?
Certainly not. In my opinion, it’s
mainly people with young families who want a more spacious home. As their family grows, they like to have a separate bedroom for each child and more than
one bathroom. Because it’s so
expensive to buy and sell a property,
many people add an extension rather
than buying a larger house.
Once the children have left home,
many parents downsize as they no
longer need so many rooms. They often use the money they make from buying a
smaller property to help their
children get a mortgage and buy a home of their own.
Also, many retired people move from
a two-storey house to a bungalow so they don’t have any stairs
to climb as they get older. Modern bungalows
are cosy and cheap to heat so there’s
a saving on utility bills as well.
This is important when you’re living on a pension.
In conclusion, although many of us
would like a nicer home, I don’t think size is the most important thing for a
lot of people.
3) What do you think living spaces
will be like in the future?
That’s not something I’ve ever thought about but I would
guess that more people will live in high-rises
because some places in the world are running out of space for building new houses.
I saw a programme on TV recently where someone had designed
a small apartment where the furniture folded away so you could
quickly change the same space from a living
room to a dining room and then
into a bedroom. The kitchen appliances were hidden in cupboards so were shut away until you
needed to use them. It was amazing and I think this sort of accommodation could
become common in the future.
However, in places with more land available I don’t think
there will be much change in the near future. Perhaps in fifty years, people
will be living in space but I can’t imagine what their accommodation would look like.
Cities like Hong Kong have many high-rise apartments as there is very little space to build accommodation.
Click this link to get a PDF download of these practise questions & sample answers.
Download PDF Now
Accommodation & Home Vocabulary
* Important
- Do not try
and learn this list of accommodation and home vocabulary.
- Identify
the vocabulary you find useful for answering practise questions about this topic.
- Record
these in your vocabulary notebook and practise using them regularly.
I recommend that you create
your own answers to the Speaking questions on this page. You will find many
other IELTS-style practise questions by searching online.
For help on how to learn
vocabulary, what to learn and how to record it, visit these pages:
How to Learn Vocabulary for
IELTS
Top 6 Types of IELTS
Vocabulary & Topic Word Lists
Accommodation & Home Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
Home Vocabulary Set 1: Key definitions
house – building where
people (usually one family) live
— Our house is
near the park.
home – place where
someone lives, where they feel they belong
— It’s nice to come home
in the evening and spend time with my family.
accommodation – a building or set
of rooms where someone lives or stays
— Oti started looking for accommodation as soon as her university place was confirmed.
a property
– building and the land it is built on
— Our present house is too small now that we have children
so we are looking for a new property.
single storey – with
only a ground floor level
— My elderly parents are buying a single storey house as they find it difficult to climb the stairs.
two-storey
– with two floors levels
— Sanjay found a lovely two-storey
property to rent close to his workplace.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 2: Types of home
detached house
– a house that is not connected to any other houses
—
We’d love to buy one of the new detached
houses being built near the lake but they’re out of our price range.
semi-detached house
– a house that is joined to another house on one side
— Meena lived in a semi-detached
house and could sometimes hear her neighbours arguing through the adjoining
wall.
terraced house
(UK) / row house (US) – a
house in a row of similar houses joined together on both sides
— Having a property either side of us means that our terraced house stays warm in winter.
townhouse
– a house built in a row but larger in size than a terraced house, often having
more than two storeys
— Townhouses are
popular with families as they often have extra bedrooms in the attic.
bungalow – a house with only one storey; built all on one level
— Many people move to a bungalow
when they retire so they don’t have to climb the stair as they get older.
cottage
– a small house, usually located in the countryside
— For lots of people, a cottage
in the countryside is their idea of a dream home.
flat / apartment –
a set of
rooms for living in that are part of a larger building and are usually all on
one floor
— It was a
big day when their son left home and moved into his own flat.
fully-furnished flat / apartment
– one that you rent with furniture already in it
— The young couple didn’t have much money so looked for a fully-furnished apartment to rent when
they got married.
studio flat / apartment
– a small flat that has one main room for living, eating and sleeping in
— Hilda had the choice of three studio flats in the converted property and chose the one with pink
walls.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
bedsit – a rented room that has a bed, table, chairs, and somewhere to cook in it but a shared bathroom
— The bedsit is small but has everything I need to create a little home for myself.
condominium (condo) – a building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually owned apartments or houses
— Manuel decided that if he got the big promotion, he would buy a condo down by the river.
apartment block / high-rise – an apartment building with at least 10 floors
— There is little space for housing in my city and most people live in a high-rise.
block of flats / tower block – a tall building with flats on many levels
— They are clearing some of the old terraced houses in our town and replacing them with blocks of flats.
penthouse – an expensive flat at the top of a tall building in a fashionable area of a city
mansion – a large, impressive house
— If we were rich, I would buy a penthouse in London overlooking the River Thames but my husband would prefer a mansion on the coast.
villa – a large, often luxurious house in the country or near the sea, especially in southern Europe, and often rented out for holidays
— We stayed in a fabulous villa when we visited Greece. It even had its own swimming pool.
student digs – student accommodation, often in a shared house
— I was apprehensive about moving into student digs but I’m enjoying it and get on well with my housemates.
hall of residence – a college or university building where students live in flats
— Shishka lived in a hall of residence for her first year at university then rented a house with some friends.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 3: Location
residential area
– area in which most of the buildings are houses
— Our town is growing rapidly with several new residential areas currently being
developed.
suburb – a residential area on the edge of
towns or cities
—
Nearly all my colleagues at work live in the suburbs and commute by train each day.
on the outskirts
– the areas that form the outer edge of a town, city or village, that are furthest
away from the centre
— It’s great living on
the outskirts. It’s easy to get into the city but we are also close to the
countryside.
downtown
– near the centre of a town or city, especially the business or shopping areas
— I’m looking for a flat downtown so I don’t have to commute far to work.
housing estate
– a large group of houses built at the same time and in the same style
— In the UK, most new homes are built on housing estates.
within walking distance
– not very far; close enough to reach by walking
— We chose to live here because it’s within
walking distance of the school.
close-knit community
– a neighbourhood where people are helpful and supportive
— This is a close-knit
community and there’s always someone to turn to if you need help.
to live on campus
– to live on the university or college grounds
— I like living on
campus as I don’t have far to go to lectures or the student’s union bar.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 4: Rooms
bedroom – room used for sleeping in
—
I’ve painted my bedroom yellow as it
makes me feel cheerful when I wake up.
living room / lounge
/ sitting room –
room used for relaxing
—
In the evenings I chill out in the living
room with a book or watch a bit of TV.
bathroom – room with a bath and/or shower and
often a toilet
—
With five people in my family, we have to queue for the bathroom in the morning.
kitchen – room where food is prepared and
cooked, and sometimes eaten
—
The kitchen is my favourite room in
the house because I love cooking.
dining room – room in which meals are eaten
—
I usually eat my breakfast in the kitchen but we always have family meals in
the dining room.
study – a room for doing paperwork and
studying in
—
Kamal spent all day in the study
working on his essay.
hall / hallway – open area inside the main entrance
which leads to other rooms and usually the stairs
—
Having a large hallway is so useful
if you have a baby as there’s plenty of space to store the buggy.
landing – area at the top of the stairs
—
I’m always telling the kids off for leaving their toys on the landing in case someone trips over them
and falls down the stairs.
utility room – room used for storage and equipment
such as the washing machine, freezer, etc.
—
It’s a rule in our house that all muddy boots are left in the utility room.
basement / cellar – room below ground level used for
storage and sometimes for accommodation
—
The children are so excited that our new house has a basement as we’ve promised to turn it into a playroom for them.
porch – a
covered shelter protecting the front entrance of a building
—
I’m so grateful for the porch on a
wet day when I have to stop and wipe the dog’s feet before going indoors.
conservatory – a
room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side
— It
was Klaus and Meena’s dream to build a conservatory on the side of their house
as somewhere to relax in the sun.
attic / loft – space in the roof used for storage
and often converted into accommodation
—
Margit regretted putting so much junk up in the attic now that she had to clear it out ready for the builders to
start work on the loft conversion.
pantry / larder – small, cold room used for storing
food
—
We had a proper larder when I was
young but nowadays, most people keep food in the fridge, freezer or a cupboard.
balcony – a
platform enclosed by a wall or bars on the outside of a building, with access
from an upper-floor window or door
— My dream home would have a balcony overlooking the sea.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 5: Owning and renting
to rent – to pay money to the owner of a property to
be allowed to live there
— One day I hope to own
my own home but for now, I can only afford to rent.
to rent out / let out
– to allow someone to live in your property for a fee
— I inherited my mum’s
bungalow when she died and I’ve decided to rent it out.
rented accommodation – a property for which a
person pays a fixed amount to live in it to the person who owns it
—
Being a university town, Exeter has lots of rented accommodation for the students.
landlord / landlady
– the owner of a building or room that is rented out to others
— I have an excellent landlord
who always fixes things quickly when something needs repairing.
tenant
– someone who rents a flat or house from the person who owns it
— The people renting Adil’s flat gave notice last week so
he’s looking for new tenants.
to give notice
– to inform someone that you will be leaving or that they are required to leave
— We gave the
landlord the required 30-day’s notice
that we would be moving out of the flat.
to put down a deposit
– to make an initial payment as part of a rental agreement or to secure a
purchase
—
The landlord said that once we’d put down the deposit of £200, the flat was ours.
lease
– the contract a tenant signs when renting a property
— We gave him the £200 deposit immediately and agreed that
we’d visit the office later to sign the
lease.
short-term rental / lease –
a rental agreement that lasts for a short time, usually 3 — 6 months
— The flat was only available on a short-term lease as the landlord wanted to sell it.
evict
– to force tenants to leave a property if they fail to pay the rent or they
behave unacceptably
— The tenants in the flat above us used to play loud music
all night long but thankfully the landlady evicted
them.
fully-furnished – a
rented property with all furniture included
—
As a student, I didn’t have any money to buy furniture so always rented fully-furnished accommodation.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
estate agent (UK) / real estate agent (US) – someone whose job it is to help people buy and sell property. Some deal with rentals as well.
— Tuyen told the estate agent what sort of property she was looking for and he gave her the details of ten houses she might be interested in looking at.
to get on the property ladder – to buy a low priced property with the aim of buying another bigger or more expensive one later in life
— They were fed up with paying high rents and longed to get on the property ladder and invest in a home of their own.
mortgage – a large loan given to buys a house or flat
— Julio was delighted when his mortgage application was accepted and he could go ahead with his house purchase.
to take out a mortgage – to borrow money from the bank in order to buy a house
— Taking out a mortgage is a big commitment and most homeowners spend all their working life paying it off.
first-time buyer – someone buying a property for the first time
— The developer converted the old house into four apartments that would be affordable to first-time buyers.
repossess – to take back possession of something, especially a property when mortgage payments have not been made
— Luther lost his job and couldn’t pay his mortgage so the bank repossessed it.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 6: Inside a home
(all the) mod cons
– appliances in the home that make it easy to do jobs like washing, cooking,
cleaning, etc.
—
The furnished apartment I’m interested in renting has all the mod cons, including a dishwasher and tumble drier which
many rentals don’t have.
appliances
– a
device, machine or piece of equipment, especially an electrical one, that does
a specific job in the home, such as a cooker or washing machine
— It must have been
such hard work for my grandmother running a home without all the time-saving appliances we have today.
fitted kitchen
– a kitchen with the cupboards and units designed to fit the space exactly and then
fixed in place
— My new fitted
kitchen has built-in appliances which make so much better use of the space.
built-in wardrobe
– a wardrobe that is part of a room and fixed to the wall
— I didn’t need to buy much bedroom furniture for my first
flat as it had built-in wardrobes.
carpeted – the
floors have carpet on them
— Some people like bare floorboards in their home but I prefer
the rooms to be carpeted.
furniture
– items in a home that make it comfortable and functional to live in such as
chairs, tables, beds, etc.
— Wolfgang and Angelika went to town to choose some furniture for their new extension.
utilities
– gas, electricity, water
— On top of the rental fee, they had to pay for the utilities as well.
spacious
– having a lot of space inside
— Sally loved her friend’s new home, especially the spacious kitchen.
cosy
– giving
a feeling of warmth, comfort and relaxation
— Old cottages have really thick walls which makes them cool
in summer but cosy in winter.
natural light – light
from the sun
— I hate houses that are dark inside and like my home to be
full of natural light.
elevator (US) / lift
(UK) – a box-like compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people
or things to different levels in a building
-Vadim often walked up the stairs to his tenth-floor flat
but took the lift if he was carrying
shopping.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 7: Outside a home
garden
– area of grass or other vegetation beside a house and belonging to the property
— I would hate to live in a house without a garden as I love to grow my own
vegetables.
lawn
– an area of grass that is cut short, especially in someone’s garden
— Our garden is mostly lawn
with some flower borders and a vegetable patch.
backyard
– a small space surrounded by walls at the back of a house, usually with a
hard surface (US – an enclosed area covered with grass)
— The kids are out playing in the backyard.
terrace
/ patio – paved area close to the house for relaxing, eating, etc
— In the summer we enjoy relaxing on the patio and often set up the barbeque
there.
hedge
– a line of bushes or small trees growing close together around a garden or
field
The property had a high hedge
which gave it good privacy from the neighbours.
fence
– a flat upright structure made of wood or wire that surrounds a garden or
other area of land
— We had to put up a new fence at the side of the house as the old one blew down in a gale.
shed – small wooden
building in a garden usually used for storing garden tools
— I don’t like going into the shed to get tools out as there
are large spiders in there.
garage
– building intended for storing a car, usually attached to the side of a house
— Most people in the UK use their garage for storage and don’t have room for the car.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 8: Improving a property
to convert
– to change the form of something
— Our plan is to convert
the garage into a study.
loft
conversion – to turn the loft/attic into
living accommodation
— Doing a loft conversion will mean that each of the children will be able to
have a bedroom of their own.
to
add an extension – to build an extra room onto a
house
— Many people add an extension as their family grows rather than buying a larger
house.
to redecorate
– to paint one or more rooms again or put new wallpaper on the walls
— The colour scheme in their new house was dull and
old-fashioned so they redecorated
before they moved in.
to do up a property
– to repair and update an old property
—
Jai couldn’t afford the smart new houses he looked at so he decided to buy an
old property and do it up.
to renovate
– to restore to a good state of repair
— The property has been empty for several years but we’re planning to renovate it and turn
it back into a nice home.
to paper the walls
– to put up wallpaper
— My friend is a decorator and is going to help me paper the walls in my new flat.
to tile the bathroom
– to cover a wall with tiles to make it water resistant
— We’ve nearly finished the new extension and just need to tile the bathroom.
a
lick of paint – a small amount of paint; one
layer of paint
— There was very little that needed
doing before we move into the house but we gave the walls a lick of paint to
brighten them up.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Home Vocabulary Set 9: Other vocabulary
dream home
– a home you regard as perfect
— My dream home
would be a cottage by the sea.
modern
– based on up to date styles
— Most modern
houses are very similar to look at and have small rooms and not much storage
space.
house-hunting
– looking for a property to live in
— We’ve been house-hunting
for three months but can’t find anything that really suits us.
house-warming party
– a party to celebrate moving into a new home
— I’m going to a colleague’s house-warming party on Saturday and can’t wait to look around her
new home.
to have a place of your own
– to have your own home and not have to share it with anyone else
— I love living at home with my family but I’m 21 now and have
a good job so I feel it’s time to find a
place of my own.
to move in – to begin to live in a property
— Niko was impressed with the
recently renovated hall of residence and couldn’t wait to move in.
to move out – to stop living in a particular
place
— Veronica broke up with her
boyfriend and moved out of their
flat.
downsize – to reduce in size; to buy a
smaller house
— Many parents downsize when their children have left home as they don’t need such
a large house.
to feel homesick – to feel unhappy
because you are away from home and are missing your family, friends, and home
very much
— For the first few months at
university, Dalia felt very homesick
but she began to feel better once she started to make new friends.
there’s no place like home – an expression that means your
home is a special place
— I do enjoy travelling the world and visiting amazing
places but there’s no place like home.
next door – the property next to yours
— A new family has just moved into the house next door.
a view – what you can see from a particular place
— The thing I remember most about my grandmother’s house was
the lovely view of the mountains.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
Click this link to get a PDF download of this list of home vocabulary.
Download PDF Now
Ways to Improve Your Home Vocabulary
One of the best
ways to improve your home vocabulary is through reading. Watching topic related YouTube
videos and listening to podcasts is also hugely beneficial.
Here are some
online resources I recommend.
Accommodation & Home Articles
Our Property
The Guardian — Property
Rightmove — Renting & other articles
One
of the best reading resources is property listings. Google ‘property for sale’
and read property listings on the websites that come up. They’ll contain much
of the homes vocabulary we’ve been studying.
TED Talks
I love TED Talks. They are short videos
with a powerful message and are generally very interesting. They’re ideal for
improving your vocabulary and give valuable listening skills practise.
Search TED Talks — Homes to help you improve your home vocabulary.
All Topic Vocabulary
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