Can you describe your home in English? This guide gives you the room and furniture words, the difference between there is and there are, and the little words on, in and under.
This article is the reading companion to the free Mondosol lesson English A1: My Home — Rooms & Furniture, part of the English course. Read it, watch the videos, or press play and listen first, then practise in the lesson.
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In this article
Rooms in a home
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kitchen | The room where you cook. You find a cooker and a fridge here. | I cook dinner in the kitchen. |
| bedroom | The room where you sleep (bed + room). | My bedroom is small. |
| bathroom | The room with a bath or shower. | The bathroom is next to the bedroom. |
| living room | The room where you relax and meet friends. | We watch TV in the living room. |
Americans often say restroom for a public toilet. In someone’s home, ask for the bathroom.
Furniture words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sofa | A long soft seat. Also called a couch. | The sofa is comfortable. |
| desk | A table for work or study. | There is a laptop and a lamp on the desk. |
| chair | A seat for one person. | There are two chairs in the kitchen. |
| bed | Where you sleep. | The bed is under the window. |
There is and there are
Use there is for one thing and there are for many things.
| One thing | Many things |
|---|---|
| There is a lamp. | There are two chairs. |
| There is a sofa in the living room. | There are three books on the desk. |
| Is there a fridge? | Are there any chairs? |
Where is it? In, on, under
Prepositions of place tell us where a thing is. Start with three: on touches the top, in is inside, and under is below.
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| on | The book is on the table. |
| in | The milk is in the fridge. |
| under | The cat is under the bed. |
| next to | The lamp is next to the sofa. |
Asking politely at someone’s home
When you visit a friend, ask like this: Where’s the bathroom, please? It is short and polite. You can also say Can I use the bathroom?
British English says flat for a home in a bigger building. American English says apartment.
Practise in 2 minutes
- Look around your room and say where three things are: The book is on the table.
- Describe your kitchen: There is a fridge. There are two chairs.
- Ask a friend: Is there a sofa in your living room?
Watch: describing your home
Two videos show the words in context. Pause and repeat each room and each piece of furniture.
Video: “House vocabulary, Parts of the House, Rooms in the House, House Objects and Furniture” by Easy English, on YouTube.
Video: “Describing your home: Easy English Conversations Episode 20” by BBC Learning English, on YouTube.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between “there is” and “there are”?
Use there is for one thing and there are for two or more things.
Is it “sofa” or “couch”?
Both words are used. They mean a long soft seat for several people.
How do I say where something is?
Use The + thing + is + a preposition: The book is on the table.
Is it “flat” or “apartment”?
British English says flat. American English says apartment.
How do I ask for the toilet politely?
At someone’s home, ask Where’s the bathroom, please?
Keep learning
- Course: English
- Lesson (practise it): English A1: My Home — Rooms & Furniture
- Read next: The Verb To Be and Likes and Dislikes
Examples are written for learners. Words can differ between British and American English.
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