Compilation of English housing vocabulary

English housing vocabulary

Illustrative images

Single-Family

/ˈsɪŋɡəl ˈfæməli/

(n)

In-law suite

/ɪn lɔː swiːt/

(n)

Carriage/ Coach House

/ˈkærɪdʒ/ koʊtʃ haʊs/

(n)

Townhome

/ˈtaʊnhoʊm/

(n)

Bungalow

/ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/

(n)

Ranch

/ræntʃ/

(n)

Cottage

/ˈkɒtɪdʒ/

(n)

Cabin

/ˈkæbɪn/

(n)

Mobile home

/ˈmoʊbaɪl hoʊm/

(n)

Mansion

/ˈmænʒən/

(n)

Floating residence

/ˈfloʊtɪŋ ˈrɛzɪdəns/

(n)

Yurt

/jɜːrt/

(n)

Tree house

/triː haʊs/

(n)

Tiny house

/ˈtaɪni haʊs/

(n)

Container home

/kənˈteɪnər hoʊm/

(n)

Underground house

/ˌʌndərˈɡraʊnd haʊs/

(n)

detached house

/dɪˈtætʃt haʊs/

(n)

Terraced house

/ˈtɛrɪst haʊs/

(n)

Flat/ Apartment

/flæt/ əˈpɑːrtmənt/

(n)

Bedsit

/ˈbɛdsɪt/

(n)

Apartment block/High-rise

/əˈpɑːrtmənt blɒk/haɪraɪz/

(n)

Penthouse

/ˈpɛnthɑʊs/

(n)

Villa

/ˈvɪlə/

(n)

Student digs

/ˈstjuːdənt dɪɡz/

(n)

English housing vocabulary

Illustrative images

Residential area

/rɪˈzɪdənʃəl ˈɛəriə/

(n)

Construction site /kənˈstrʌkʃən saɪt/

(n)

Suburb

/ˈsʌbɜːrb/

(n)

Downtown

/ˈdaʊntaʊn/

(n)

City center

/ˈsɪti ˈsɛntər/

(n)

Countryside

/ˈkʌntrɪˌsaɪd/

(n)

Housing development /ˈhaʊzɪŋ dɪˈvɛləpmənt/ (n)

Neighborhood /ˈneɪbəhʊd/

(n)

Commercial district /kəˈmɜːrʃəl ˈdɪstrɪkt/

(n)

Industrial zone /ɪnˈdʌstriəl zoʊn/

(n)

Rural area

/ˈrʊrəl ˈɛəriə/

(n)

Gated community

/ɡeɪtɪd kəˈmjuːnəti/

(n)

High-rise building

/haɪ raɪz ˈbɪldɪŋ/

(n)

Townhouse

/ˈtaʊnhaʊs/

(n)

Apartment complex /əˈpɑːrtmənt ˈkɒmplɛks/ (n)

Vacant lot

/ˈveɪkənt lɒt/

(n)

Greenfield site /ɡriːnfiːld saɪt/

(n)

Brownfield site /braʊnfiːld saɪt/

(n)

Coastal area

/ˈkoʊstəl ˈɛəriə/

(n)

Mountainside /ˈmaʊntənsaɪd/

(n)

English housing vocabulary

Illustrative images

Attic

/ˈætɪk/

(n)

Bathroom

/ˈbæθruːm/

(n)

Basement

/ˈbeɪsmənt/

(n)

Bedroom

/ˈbɛdruːm/

(n)

Dining room

/ˈdaɪnɪŋ rum/

(n)

Garage

/ɡəˈrɑːʒ/

(n)

c

Hall

/hɔːl/

(n)

Balcony

/ˈbæl.kə.ni/

(n)

Kitchen

/ˈkɪtʃən/

(n)

Living room

/ˈlɪvɪŋ rum/

(n)

Living room furnishings

Illustrative images

Sofa (couch)

/ˈsoʊfə/

(n)

Coffee table

/ˈkɒfi ˈteɪbəl/

(n)

Armchair

/ˈɑːrmˌtʃɛər/

(n)

Ottoman

/ˈɒtəmən/

(n)

Bookshelf

/ˈbʊkʃɛlf/

(n)

Side table

/saɪd ˈteɪbəl/

(n)

Floor lamp

/flɔr læmp/

(n)

Wall art

/wɔl ɑrt/

(n)

Rug (carpet)

/rʌɡ/ (/ˈkɑːrpɪt/)

(n)

Curtains (drapes)

/ˈkɜrtənz/(/dreɪps/ )

(n)

Throw pillows

/θroʊ ˈpɪloʊz/

(n)

Blanket

/ˈblæŋkɪt/

(n)

Accent chair

/ˈæksɛnt ˌtʃɛər/

(n)

Console table

/ˈkɒnsol ˈteɪbəl/

(n)

TV stand

/ˈtiːˈvi stænd/

(n)

End table

/ɛnd ˈteɪbəl/

(n)

Shelving unit

/ˈʃɛlvɪŋ ˈjuːnɪt/

(n)

Floor cushions

/flɔr ˈkʊʃənz/

(n)

Decorative vases /ˈdɛkərətɪv ˈveɪsɪz/

(n)

Kitchen furnishings

Illustrative images

Refrigerator /rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtər/

(n)

Stove

/stoʊv/

(n)

Oven

/ˈʌvən/

(n)

Microwave

/ˈmaɪkroʊweɪv/

(n)

Dishwasher

/ˈdɪʃˌwɒʃər/

(n)

Sink

/sɪŋk/

(n)

Countertop

/ˈkaʊntərˌtɒp/

(n)

Cabinet

/ˈkæbɪnɪt/

(n)

Drawer

/drɔr/

(n)

Pantry

/ˈpæntri/

(n)

Range hood

/reɪndʒ hʊd/

(n)

Cutting board

/ˈkʌtɪŋ bɔrd

(n)

Utensils

/juːˈtɛnsəlz/

(n)

Pot

/pɒt/

(n)

Frying pan

/ˈfraɪɪŋ pæn/

(n)

Dish rack

/dɪʃ ræk/

(n)

Spice rack

/spaɪs ræk/

(n)

Trash can

/træʃ kæn/

(n)

Toaster

/ˈtoʊstər/

(n)

Kettle

/ˈkɛtəl/

(n)

Bathroom furnishings

Illustrative images

Toilet

/ˈtɔɪlɪt/

(n)

Sink

/sɪŋk/

(n)

Bathtub

/ˈbæθtʌb/

(n)

Shower

/ˈʃaʊ.ər/

(n)

Mirror

/ˈmɪr.ər/

(n)

Towel rack

/ˈtaʊ.əl ræk/

(n)

Toothbrush holder /ˈtuːθ.brʌʃ ˈhoʊl.dər/

(n)

Soap dispenser

/soʊp dɪˈspɛnsər/

(n)

Shampoo

/ʃæmˈpuː/

(n)

Conditioner

/kənˈdɪʃ.ən.ər/

(n)

Shower curtain

/ˈʃaʊ.ər ˈkɜr.tən/

(n)

Bath mat

/bæθ mæt/

(n)

Towel

/taʊəl/

(n)

Toilet paper holder

/ˈtɔɪlɪt ˈpeɪ.pər ˈhoʊl.dər/

(n)

Exhaust fan

/ɪɡˈzɒst fæn/

(n)

Grab bar

/ɡræb bɑːr/

(n)

Bedroom furnishings

Illustrative images

Bed

/bɛd/

(n)

Mattress

/ˈmætrɪs/

(n)

Pillow

/ˈpɪloʊ/

(n)

Blanket

/ˈblæŋkɪt/

(n)

Dresser

/ˈdrɛsər/

(n)

Wardrobe

/ˈwɔrˌdroʊb/

(n)

Closet

/ˈklɒzɪt/

(n)

Alarm clock

/əˈlɑrm ˌklɑk/

(n)

Quilt

/kwɪlt/

(n)

Headboard

/ˈhɛdˌbɔrd/

(n)

Common daily activities in the house

Example

Wake up

I wake up at 7 AM every morning. 

Get dressed

After waking up, I get dressed and prepare for the day. 

Brush teeth

Before leaving for work, I brush my teeth. 

Have breakfast

I have breakfast with my sister every morning. 

Commute to work

I commute to work by bus every day. 

Go to school

I go to school from Monday to Friday. 

Take a break

I take a short break in the afternoon to relax. 

Have lunch

I have lunch around noon, usually at a nearby cafe. 

Cook meal

For dinner, I usually cook a simple meal at home. 

Watch TV or movies

After dinner, we like to watch TV or movies to relax. 

Read a book

Before going to bed, I like to read a book to unwind. 

Take a shower

I take a shower before getting into bed. 

Go to bed

I usually go to bed around 10:30 PM.

Set an alarm

I set an alarm for the next morning before going to sleep. 

Say goodnight to 

I say goodnight to my family before heading to bed. 

English idioms about homes

Meaning

Example

Home is where the heart is

a place you feel connected to emotionally, a place you are happy to arrive back at

After years of traveling, Sarah realized that home is where the heart is, and she decided to return to her hometown. 

A house of cards

a complicated organization or plan that is very weak and can easily be destroyed or easily go wrong

Their plan to start a business without proper research and funding was like building a house of cards—it collapsed quickly. 

Bring the house down

make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause.

The comedian's jokes were so funny that they brought the house down with laughter. 

Close the door after the horse has bolted

Someone has tried to prevent something happening but they have done so too late to prevent damage being done.

Implementing stricter security measures now is like closing the door after the horse has bolted; the damage is already done. 

Keep a roof over one's head

a place to live

Despite facing financial challenges, John worked hard to keep a roof over his family's head. 

Home sweet home

used as an expression of one's pleasure or relief at being in or returning to one's own home.

After a long trip, returning to one's own cozy house is a feeling of "home sweet home. 

Make oneself at home

to make oneself as comfortable and relaxed as one would at home

When you visit, feel free to make yourself at home and help yourself to anything in the kitchen.