Rooms of the House
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| bedroom | The room where you sleep. My bedroom is on the first floor. |
| living room / sitting room | The room where the family relaxes. We watch TV in the living room. |
| kitchen | The room where food is prepared. Mum is cooking in the kitchen. |
| bathroom | The room with a bath, shower, and toilet. The bathroom is upstairs. |
| toilet / loo | The room with just a toilet. The loo is down the hall. |
| hallway / hall | The entrance passage connecting rooms. Leave your shoes in the hallway. |
| garage | A building for parking a car. The car is in the garage. |
| garden / yard | The outdoor area around the house. The kids are playing in the garden. |
| attic | The space under the roof. Old boxes are stored in the attic. |
| cellar / basement | The room below ground level. There's a cellar full of wine. |
| study | A room used for work or reading. Dad works in the study. |
Tip In British English, the main relaxing room is usually called the living room or sitting room. In American English, it is most commonly called the living room. "Loo" is a very common informal British word for toilet.
Furniture
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| bed | The piece of furniture you sleep on. She made her bed in the morning. |
| sofa / couch | A large comfortable seat for several people. He fell asleep on the sofa. |
| table | A flat surface supported by legs. Dinner is on the table. |
| chair | A single seat with a back. Pull up a chair and sit down. |
| wardrobe | A large cupboard for hanging clothes. My wardrobe is full. |
| shelf / shelves | A flat board on a wall for storing things. Books on the shelf. |
| carpet / rug | A thick fabric floor covering. The carpet is soft underfoot. |
| curtains / blinds | Fabric or panels that cover windows. Close the curtains, please. |
| lamp | A device that gives light. Turn on the lamp — it's getting dark. |
| mirror | A glass surface that reflects your image. She looked in the mirror. |
Home Appliances
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| fridge / refrigerator | An appliance that keeps food cold. Put the milk in the fridge. |
| oven | An appliance used for baking and roasting. Preheat the oven to 200°C. |
| microwave | An appliance that heats food quickly. Heat it in the microwave. |
| washing machine | An appliance that washes clothes. Put the clothes in the washing machine. |
| dishwasher | An appliance that washes dishes. Load the dishwasher after dinner. |
| vacuum cleaner / hoover | An appliance that cleans floors. Hoover the carpet, please. |
| kettle | A device for boiling water. Put the kettle on — I'd love a tea. |
| toaster | A device for toasting bread. The toaster is on the counter. |
Useful Home Phrases
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| at home | In your house. I stayed at home today. |
| to live in | To reside in a place. She lives in a flat in the city. |
| to move house | To change where you live. We moved house last summer. |
| to rent | To pay to live in a property. They rent a two-bedroom flat. |
| to own | To be the owner of a property. My parents own their house. |
Real world: Describing your home
"We live in a three-bedroom semi-detached house. Downstairs there's a hallway, a living room, a kitchen, and a small toilet. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a bathroom."
"Can you hoover the living room and then put the washing in the washing machine, please?"
"We moved house two years ago. Our new flat is smaller, but it has a lovely garden."
Practice Problems
What is the informal British word for the toilet room?
Show answer
loo
Which appliance do you use to keep food cold?
Show answer
fridge / refrigerator
What does 'to move house' mean?
Show answer
To change where you live / to move to a new home.
Name three rooms you would find in a typical house.
Show answer
bedroom / kitchen / bathroom / living room (any three)