Dwellings House vocabulary list with definitions
Our dwellings are more than just brick and mortar; they’re our sanctuaries, our havens. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or a curious renter, navigating the world of houses requires a specific vocabulary. This blog will equip you with the essential dwelling house vocabulary to explore different parts of a home and discuss its features with ease!
List of Dwellings House Vocabulary
- Apartment
- Beam
- Blinds
- Bolt
- Brick
- Building
- Camp
- Ceiling
- Cement
- Church
- Cottage
- Cowshed
- Dome
- Door
- Drain
- Farm
- Fence
- Floor
- Fort
- Foundation
- Garden
- Godown
- Hall
- Hinge
- Home
- House
- Jail
- Kitchen
- Latch
- Lawn
- Mansion
- Mortar
- Mosque
- Nail
- Office
- Paint
- Palace
- Pillar
- Pipe
- Plank
- Pond
- Post
- Prison
- Privy
- Residence
- Roof
- Room
- Rope
- Sand
- Shed
- Shop
- Spout
- Stable
- Stair
- String
- Tank
- Tar
- Temple
- Tent
- Tile
- Treasury
- Veranda
- Wall
- Yard
- Bungalow
- Cabin
- Castle
- Chalet
- Condo
- Duplex
- Farmhouse
- Flat
- Houseboat
- Hut
- Igloo
- Loft
- Mobile home
- Penthouse
- Ranch
- Shack
- Studio
- Townhouse
- Treehouse
- Villa
- Yurt
Dwellings House vocabulary with definition and example
Apartment
- Meaning: A set of rooms forming an individual residence within a larger building.
- Example: They moved into a new apartment in the city center.
Beam
- Meaning: A long, sturdy piece of wood or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building.
- Example: The old house had exposed wooden beams in the ceiling.
Blinds
- Meaning: Window coverings made of horizontal or vertical slats that can be adjusted for light and privacy.
- Example: She pulled the blinds down to block out the afternoon sun.
Bolt
- Meaning: A metal pin or bar used for fastening objects together, often used in doors and windows.
- Example: He slid the bolt across to lock the door securely.
Brick
- Meaning: A rectangular block of clay used in building.
- Example: The house was built with red bricks.
Building
- Meaning: A structure with a roof and walls, such as a house, school, or factory.
- Example: The new office building is located downtown.
Camp
- Meaning: Temporary accommodation, typically in tents, for travelers or campers.
- Example: They set up camp by the lake for the weekend.
Ceiling
- Meaning: The upper interior surface of a room.
- Example: The chandelier was hanging from the high ceiling.
Cement
- Meaning: A powdery substance made with calcined lime and clay, used in building to make concrete.
- Example: The workers mixed cement to build the foundation of the house.
Church
- Meaning: A building used for public Christian worship.
- Example: They attended a wedding ceremony at the church.
Cottage
- Meaning: A small house, typically in a rural or semi-rural location.
- Example: They spent their vacation in a quaint cottage by the sea.
Cowshed
- Meaning: A building where cows are kept and milked.
- Example: The farmer went to the cowshed early in the morning.
Dome
- Meaning: A rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure.
- Example: The cathedral is known for its magnificent dome.
Door
- Meaning: A hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle.
- Example: She knocked on the door before entering the room.
Drain
- Meaning: A pipe or channel that carries off surplus liquid, especially rainwater or liquid waste.
- Example: The kitchen sink was clogged, so they called a plumber to clear the drain.
Farm
- Meaning: An area of land used for growing crops and rearing animals.
- Example: They bought a farm and started growing organic vegetables.
Fence
- Meaning: A barrier, railing, or other upright structure enclosing an area of ground to prevent or control access or escape.
- Example: They installed a new fence around their backyard for privacy.
Floor
- Meaning: The lower surface of a room, on which one may walk.
- Example: She mopped the kitchen floor after dinner.
Fort
- Meaning: A fortified building or military stronghold.
- Example: The ancient fort was built to protect the city from invaders.
Foundation
- Meaning: The lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.
- Example: The builders laid the foundation for the new house.
Garden
- Meaning: A piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruits, or vegetables.
- Example: She planted roses in her garden.
Godown
- Meaning: A warehouse or storage place, especially in South Asia.
- Example: They stored the merchandise in the godown near the port.
Hall
- Meaning: A large room or building for meetings, concerts, or other events.
- Example: The wedding reception was held in a grand hall.
Hinge
- Meaning: A movable joint or mechanism on which a door, gate, or lid swings as it opens and closes.
- Example: The door creaked loudly because the hinges needed oiling.
Home
- Meaning: The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
- Example: After traveling for a month, he was glad to be back home.
House
- Meaning: A building for human habitation, especially one that is lived in by a family or small group of people.
- Example: They bought a new house in the suburbs.
Jail
- Meaning: A place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime.
- Example: The suspect was taken to jail after being arrested.
Kitchen
- Meaning: A room or area where food is prepared and cooked.
- Example: She spent the afternoon baking cookies in the kitchen.
Latch
- Meaning: A fastening or lock consisting of a movable bar that fits into a notch.
- Example: He lifted the latch and opened the gate.
Lawn
- Meaning: An area of short, regularly mown grass in the yard or garden of a house or park.
- Example: They had a picnic on the lawn.
Mansion
- Meaning: A large, impressive house.
- Example: The billionaire lived in a sprawling mansion on the hill.
Mortar
- Meaning: A mixture of lime with cement, sand, and water, used in building to bond bricks or stones.
- Example: The mason used mortar to lay the bricks.
Mosque
- Meaning: A Muslim place of worship.
- Example: They visited the mosque for Friday prayers.
Nail
- Meaning: A small metal spike with a broadened flat head, driven typically into wood with a hammer to join things together.
- Example: He used a hammer to drive the nail into the wall.
Office
- Meaning: A room, set of rooms, or building used as a place for commercial, professional, or bureaucratic work.
- Example: She works in an office downtown.
Paint
- Meaning: A colored substance spread over a surface to dry and leave a thin decorative or protective coating.
- Example: They decided to paint the walls blue.
Palace
- Meaning: A large and impressive building forming the official residence of a ruler, pope, archbishop, etc.
- Example: The queen’s palace is open to visitors during the summer.
Pillar
- Meaning: A tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal used as a support for a building or as an ornament.
- Example: The entrance was flanked by two marble pillars.
Pipe
- Meaning: A tube through which a liquid or gas flows.
- Example: The plumber fixed the broken pipe under the sink.
Plank
- Meaning: A long, thin, flat piece of timber, used especially in building and flooring.
- Example: He walked across the wooden plank to reach the other side.
Pond
- Meaning: A small body of still water formed naturally or by hollowing or embanking.
- Example: Ducks were swimming in the pond.
Post
- Meaning: A long, sturdy piece of timber or metal set upright in the ground and used to support something or as a marker.
- Example: He tied the horse to the post outside the store.
Prison
- Meaning: A building where people are kept as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.
- Example: The convict was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Privy
- Meaning: An outdoor toilet.
- Example: The old cabin had a privy in the back.
Residence
- Meaning: A person’s home, especially a large and impressive one.
- Example: The official residence of the ambassador is in the capital.
Roof
- Meaning: The structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.
- Example: They climbed onto the roof to fix the leak.
Room
- Meaning: A part or division of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling.
- Example: The house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Rope
- Meaning: A length of strong cord made by twisting together strands of natural fibers such as hemp or artificial fibers such as polypropylene.
- Example: They used a rope to tie the boat to the dock.
Sand
- Meaning: A loose granular substance, typically pale yellowish brown, resulting from the erosion of siliceous and other rocks.
- Example: They spread sand on the icy sidewalk for better traction.
Shed
- Meaning: A simple roofed structure used for garden storage, to shelter animals, or as a workshop.
- Example: He kept his tools in the garden shed.
Shop
- Meaning: A building or part of a building where goods or services are sold.
- Example: She went to the shop to buy some groceries.
Spout
- Meaning: A tube or lip projecting from a container, through which liquid can be poured.
- Example: The teapot had a delicate spout for pouring tea.
Stable
- Meaning: A building set apart and adapted for keeping horses.
- Example: The horses were kept in the stable overnight.
Stair
- Meaning: A set of steps leading from one floor of a building to another.
- Example: She climbed the stairs to the second floor.
String
- Meaning: A thin piece of cord or twine used for tying or hanging things.
- Example: He used a piece of string to tie the package.
Tank
- Meaning: A large container for storing liquid or gas.
- Example: The water tank on the roof supplies the entire building.
Tar
- Meaning: A dark, thick flammable liquid distilled from wood or coal, used in road-making and for coating and preserving timber.
- Example: The road was newly paved with tar.
Temple
- Meaning: A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.
- Example: The ancient temple was built in honor of the sun god.
Tent
- Meaning: A portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and stretched tight by cords or loops attached to pegs driven into the ground.
- Example: They set up a tent in the campsite for the night.
Tile
- Meaning: A thin, flat piece of baked clay or other material, used in overlapping rows for covering roofs.
- Example: The bathroom was decorated with colorful tiles.
Treasury
- Meaning: A place or building where treasure, especially a store of valuable items, is kept.
- Example: The ancient treasury was discovered hidden beneath the temple.
Veranda
- Meaning: A roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.
- Example: They sat on the veranda, enjoying the evening breeze.
Wall
- Meaning: A continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land.
- Example: They painted the living room wall a bright yellow.
Yard
- Meaning: A piece of ground adjoining a building or house, typically one enclosed by a fence.
- Example: The children played in the yard after school.
Bungalow
- Meaning: A low house with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.
- Example: They retired to a cozy bungalow by the beach.
Cabin
- Meaning: A small, simple house made of wood, typically in a rural or forest area.
- Example: They spent their vacation in a log cabin in the mountains.
Castle
- Meaning: A large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.
- Example: They toured the medieval castle and learned about its history.
Chalet
- Meaning: A wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.
- Example: They stayed in a charming chalet during their ski trip.
Condo
- Meaning: Short for condominium, a building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually owned apartments or houses.
- Example: She bought a condo in a high-rise building downtown.
Duplex
- Meaning: A house divided into two separate residences, typically with separate entrances.
- Example: They live in a duplex, sharing one side with another family.
Farmhouse
- Meaning: The main house on a farm, where the farmer lives.
- Example: The farmhouse was surrounded by fields of corn and wheat.
Flat
- Meaning: British term for an apartment.
- Example: They rented a flat in London for a year.
Houseboat
- Meaning: A boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home.
- Example: They lived on a houseboat on the river.
Hut
- Meaning: A small, simple single-story house or shelter.
- Example: The villagers lived in huts made of straw and mud.
Igloo
- Meaning: A dome-shaped Eskimo house, typically built from blocks of solid snow.
- Example: They built an igloo for shelter during their Arctic expedition.
Loft
- Meaning: A room or space directly under the roof of a house or other building, used for accommodation or storage.
- Example: The artist lived in a spacious loft with large windows.
Mobile home
- Meaning: A large house trailer that can be moved and is used as a permanent living accommodation.
- Example: They bought a mobile home and traveled across the country.
Penthouse
- Meaning: An apartment on the top floor of a tall building, typically luxuriously fitted and offering fine views.
- Example: The CEO’s penthouse had a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Ranch
- Meaning: A large farm, especially in North America or Australia, where cattle or other animals are bred and raised.
- Example: They visited a cattle ranch in Texas.
Shack
- Meaning: A roughly built hut or cabin.
- Example: The fisherman lived in a small shack by the lake.
Studio
- Meaning: A small apartment consisting typically of a main room, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.
- Example: She rented a studio in the heart of the city.
Townhouse
- Meaning: A tall, narrow, traditional row house, generally having three or more floors.
- Example: They bought a townhouse in a historic district.
Treehouse
- Meaning: A small house, especially one for children, built in the branches of a tree.
- Example: The children played in the treehouse their dad built.
Villa
- Meaning: A large and luxurious country residence.
- Example: They stayed in a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Yurt
- Meaning: A portable, round tent covered with skins or felt used as a dwelling by nomads in Central Asia.
- Example: They stayed in a traditional yurt while visiting Mongolia.
By understanding this vocabulary, you can effectively describe your own dwelling or discuss the features of houses you’re interested in. So, the next time you step inside a new home or talk about your own, use these terms to navigate the conversation with confidence!
Do you have a favorite part of your dwelling? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!