Learn English Vocabulary

House Vocabulary In English: 120+ Words And Phrases That Actually Show Up

Q: What’s the difference between “house” and “home”?

House is the building. Home is where you live and feel comfortable.

Q: How do I describe a plumbing problem in English?

Use simple nouns plus location, like leak, drip, clog, and drain. Example: “The drain is clogged in the shower.”

Q: How do I ask for a repair without sounding rude?

Try: “Could you send someone to fix it?” or “Could someone take a look at this?” Add a time window if needed.

Q: Is “couch” or “sofa” more common?

Both are common. Couch often feels more casual; sofa can feel slightly more formal. Either is fine in daily speech.

Q: What does “utilities included” mean?

Some bills like water, electricity, gas, or internet are covered in the rent. Always confirm which ones.

Rooms, furniture, repairs, renting, and those dramatic “why is the floor wet” moments—explained with natural examples you can steal for real life.

Small yak confession: I once tried to help a learner message their landlord. They wrote, “Hello. My house is bad.” Accurate… but not helpful. We changed it to: “There’s a leak under the sink and the breaker keeps tripping.” Suddenly, the landlord understood the problem—and the learner sounded calm, specific, and very grown-up.

If you can say kitchen, you can survive. But if you can say clogged drain, drafty window, and the Wi-Fi is down, you can thrive—at home, in rentals, and in group chats where someone is always “forgetting” the trash.

Yak Snark: You don’t need advanced English to talk about your home. You need the exact words for the exact problem. Like mold. Or the Wi-Fi is down. Or who left the window open.

What You’ll Get

120+ house words grouped by room and real-life situation
Quick Wins for repairs, roommates, and rentals
A mini lesson on in / on / at for home English (very common mistakes)
Audio buttons for the most useful phrases (tap and copy)

Quick Wins

Learn these first. They show up constantly in apartments, houses, Airbnbs, dorms, and “help, something is dripping” moments.

Report A Leak

Works for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms… and panic.

Breaker / Power Problem

Short, clear, and very “please fix this today.”

Wi-Fi Down

Instantly useful for roommates, rentals, and remote work.

Tiny Practice That Works

There’s a leak under the sink. The drain is clogged. The heater isn’t working. The Wi-Fi is down.

Emergency Phrase Pack (Copy And Send)

These are the exact sentences that save you from awkward pointing. Use them with roommates, landlords, or maintenance.

Situation	What To Say	Extra Detail That Helps
Plumbing	The drain is clogged and the water isn’t going down.	Add: “It’s in the shower / kitchen sink.”
Electricity	One outlet isn’t working.	Add: “The bedroom outlet by the desk.”
Heating/Cooling	The heater isn’t working and it’s freezing in here.	Add: “The thermostat is set to 24.”
Water Damage	There’s water on the floor near the bathroom door.	Add: “It started this morning / last night.”
Scheduling	Could you send someone to fix it today?	Add: “Any time after 2 pm works.”

House Vocabulary List (120+)

Search the list to find the word you need fast.

Types Of Homes 12

house
home
apartment
condo
studio
duplex
townhouse
basement apartment
penthouse
shared house
floor plan
open concept

Rooms 18

living room
family room
kitchen
dining room
bedroom
bathroom
half bathpowder room
laundry room
home office
hallway
entrywayfoyer
closet
pantry
storage room
garage
basement
attic
stairs

Parts Of A House 22

front door
doorknob
deadbolt
doorbell
window
window sill
curtains
blinds
screen
wall
ceiling
floor
baseboard
tile
carpet
hardwood floor
laminate
roof
gutters
pipes
vent
fence

Furniture & Decor 18

sofacouch
armchair
coffee table
side table
TV stand
bookshelfbookcase
desk
chair
stool
rug
cushion
blanketthrow
lamp
light bulb
mirror
picture frame
shelf
drawer

Kitchen Words 20

sink
faucettap
countertop
cabinet
stovecooktop
oven
microwave
fridgerefrigerator
freezer
dishwasher
garbage disposal
range hood
kitchen island
cutting board
dish rack
trash can
recycling bin
paper towels
sponge
pan

Bathroom Words 15

toilet
shower
bathtub
showerhead
drain
towel
towel rack
toilet paper
soap dispenser
bath mat
sink basin
grout
tile
mold
mildew

Bedroom Words 14

bed frame
mattress
pillow
duvetcomforter
bedsheets
nightstandbedside table
dresser
wardrobe
hanger
laundry basket
blackout curtains
alarm clock
outlet
extension cord

Cleaning & Chores 16

vacuum
mop
broom
dust
wipe down
cleaning spray
detergent
fabric softener
stain
trash
take out the trash
recycling
laundry
fold clothes
iron
ironing board

Repairs & Problems 20

leak
drip
clog
overflow
water damage
crack
hole in the wall
peeling paint
drafty
stuffy
humid
dehumidifier
pest
cockroach
ant
termite
maintenance
repair
renovation
inspection

Tools 10

toolbox
screwdriver
wrench
hammer
nail
screw
measuring tape
level
ladder
flashlight

Electricity, Internet, Heating & Cooling 16

electricity
power outage
circuit breaker
breaker panel
outlet
power strip
light switch
fuse
router
Wi-Fi
thermostat
heater
air conditioner
fan
vent
water heater

Outdoor Spaces 10

balcony
patio
porch
yard
garden
gate
driveway
walkway
mailbox
doormat

Renting & House Rules 20

rent
lease
depositsecurity deposit
utilities
landlord
tenant
roommate
move in
move out
walkthrough
notice period
rent receipt
furnished
unfurnished
pet friendly
non-smoking
quiet hours
house rules
Please knock first
take off your shoes

Fast Study Method (Very Unsexy, Very Effective)

Pick 12 words you actually need. Then write 6 short sentences like: The faucet drips. The drain is clogged. The Wi-Fi is down. Short sentences are how real-life English works.

Mini Lesson: “In” / “On” / “At” (Home English)

These tiny words cause huge confusion. Here’s what tends to work in real life:

Use In For Rooms

You’re inside a space.

I’m in the kitchen. The towels are in the bathroom. My desk is in the bedroom.

Use On For Surfaces

Something touches a surface.

Keys are on the table. There’s water on the floor. Put it on the shelf.

Use At For Points

A specific spot or place.

Someone’s at the door. Meet me at the entrance. I’m at home today.

If you’re not sure: rooms = in, surfaces = on, specific points = at. Your yak approves this shortcut.

Renting English (The Adult Vocabulary, Sorry)

A few words make you sound much more confident when you’re viewing a place, signing a lease, or asking for repairs.

Questions You Can Ask (And They Sound Natural)

Are utilities included? How much is the deposit? Is it furnished? What’s the notice period?

Want the polite “email version”? Try: Hi, could you confirm whether utilities are included and what the deposit is?

US Vs UK House Words (Same Mess, Different Labels)

US	UK	Example
apartment	flat	I rent a flat near the city center.
faucet	tap	The tap is dripping.
vacation	holiday	We’re on holiday next week.
trash / garbage	rubbish	Take the rubbish out tonight.
closet	wardrobe	The wardrobe is full of coats.

Also: “first floor” can mean different things depending on the country. If it matters, ask what level it’s on.

Common Mistakes (And Easy Fixes)

Mistake 1: Mixing Up “Sink” And “Faucet”

Fix: The sink is the bowl. The faucet (UK: tap) is the water control.

Mistake 2: Saying “I Am At The Kitchen”

Fix: Use in for rooms: “I’m in the kitchen.” Use at for points: “I’m at the door.”

Mistake 3: Being Too Vague With Repairs

Fix: Add location + symptom: “There’s a leak under the sink.” “The outlet by the desk isn’t working.”

FAQ

What’s the difference between “house” and “home”? Meaning

House is the building. Home is where you live and feel comfortable. (You can make any place a home, even a tiny studio.)

How do I describe a plumbing problem in English? Repairs

Use simple nouns + location: “leak,” “drip,” “clog,” “drain.” Example: The drain is clogged in the shower.

How do I ask for a repair without sounding rude? Polite

Try: Could you send someone to fix it? or Could someone take a look at this? Add a time window if needed.

Is “couch” or “sofa” more common? Usage

Both are common. Couch can feel more casual; sofa can feel slightly more “furniture store.” In daily speech, either is fine.

What does “utilities included” mean? Renting

Some bills (like water, electricity, gas, or internet) are covered in the rent. Always ask which ones.