household items in German
- das Wohnzimmer the living room
- die Küche the kitchen
- das Esszimmer the dining room
- das Schlafzimmer the bedroom
- das Badezimmer the bathroom
- das Gästezimmer the guest room
- der Keller the basement
- der Dachboden the attic
- die Garage the garage
- der Flur/die Diele the hallway
- der Balkon the balcony
- die Terrasse the terrace
- der Garten the garden
- der Arbeitsraum the study/workroom
- das Spielzimmer the playroom
- das Badezimmer the bathroom
- die Toilette the toilet
- das Gästezimmer the guest room
- der Keller the basement
- der Dachboden the attic
- die Garage the garage
- der Flur/die Diele the hallway
- der Balkon the balcony
- die Terrasse the terrace
- der Garten the garden
- der Arbeitsraum the study/workroom
- das Spielzimmer the playroom
- die Toilette the toilet
- der Eingang the entrance
- das Treppenhaus the staircase
- das Arbeitszimmer the office
- der Waschraum the laundry room
- der Abstellraum the storage room
- die Veranda the veranda
- das Heimkino the home cinema
parts of the House in German
Learning the names of rooms in a house in German is useful for everyday communication and navigating social situations. This guide provides essential German vocabulary for describing different rooms and common items found within them. Whether you're visiting a friend's house or planning to live in a German-speaking country, mastering these words will enhance your language skills and practical knowledge.
Essential German House Room Vocabulary
English |
German |
Pronunciation |
Bathroom |
Badezimmer |
Bah-de-tsim-mer |
Bedroom |
Schlafzimmer |
Shlaf-tsim-mer |
Kitchen |
Küche |
Koo-ke |
Living room |
Wohnzimmer |
Vohn-tsim-mer |
Dining room |
Esszimmer |
Ess-tsim-mer |
Basement |
Keller |
Kel-ler |
Attic / Loft |
Dachboden / Dachgeschoss |
Dahkh-boh-den / Dahkh-ge-schoss |
Learning basic German house vocabulary is essential whether you're studying the language or planning a trip to Germany. This guide provides a list of common terms for different parts of a house along with audio pronunciations by a native speaker. By familiarizing yourself with these words, you'll improve your ability to communicate effectively in German-speaking environments.
German house vocabulary
English |
German |
Pronunciation |
House |
Haus |
Hows |
Room |
Zimmer |
Tsim-mer |
Door |
Tür |
Teur |
Window |
Fenster |
Fen-ster |
Floor |
Boden / Stock / Etage |
Boh-den / Shtock / Eh-ta-ge |
Wall |
Wand |
Vant |
Roof |
Dach |
Dahkh |
Ceiling |
Decke |
De-ke |
Kitchen |
Küche |
Koo-ke |
Bathroom |
Badezimmer |
Bah-de-tsim-mer |
Bedroom |
Schlafzimmer |
Shlaf-tsim-mer |
Living room |
Wohnzimmer |
Vohn-tsim-mer |
Dining room |
Esszimmer |
Ess-tsim-mer |
Garage |
Garage |
Gah-rah-ge |
Garden |
Garten |
Gar-ten |
Stairs |
Treppe |
Trep-pe |
Basement |
Keller |
Kel-ler |
Attic / Loft |
Dachboden / Dachgeschoss |
Dahkh-boh-den / Dahkh-ge-schoss |
Rooms in a German House
Exploring the various rooms in a German house provides insight into how spaces are used and furnished. Each room serves a specific function and is equipped with essential furniture and items tailored to its purpose.
Das Wohnzimmer (the Living Room)
The living room, known as das Wohnzimmer in German, serves as the central gathering place for family members. It is often where evenings are spent, perhaps watching TV or relaxing. Here are some common items found in a Wohnzimmer:
German Term |
English Translation |
das Wohnzimmer |
the living room |
das Sofa/die Couch |
the sofa/couch |
der Couchtisch |
the coffee table |
der Fernseher |
the television set |
Das Esszimmer (the Dining Room)
Connected to the living room in many homes, das Esszimmer is where families often gather for meals, especially on special occasions like Christmas. Here are typical items found in an Esszimmer:
German Term |
English Translation |
das Esszimmer |
the dining room |
der Esstisch |
the dining table |
die Stühle (der Stuhl) |
the chairs (the chair) |
die Anrichte (das Sideboard) |
the sideboard |
Das Schlafzimmer (the Bedroom)
Das Schlafzimmer is where sleep is the primary activity. It typically contains essential furniture conducive to rest:
German Term |
English Translation |
das Bett |
the bed |
der Kleiderschrank |
the wardrobe |
der Nachttisch |
the bedside table |
die Nachttischlampe |
the bedside lamp |
Das Kinderzimmer (the Kid’s Room)
In German houses, das Kinderzimmer is where children sleep and play. It often doubles as a playroom, filled with toys and books:
German Term |
English Translation |
das Kinderzimmer |
the kid’s room |
das Spielzimmer |
the playroom |
das Kinderbett |
the crib |
der Wickeltisch |
the changing table |
die Spielzeugkiste |
the toy box |
Das Arbeitszimmer (the Study)/Das Gästezimmer (the Guest Room)
Das Arbeitszimmer serves as a study or home office, and sometimes doubles as das Gästezimmer for guests. It is equipped with functional furniture:
German Term |
English Translation |
das Arbeitszimmer |
the study |
das Gästezimmer |
the guest room |
das Schlafsofa |
the sofa bed |
der Schreibtisch |
the desk |
der Schreibtischstuhl |
the desk chair |
das Bücherregal |
the bookshelf |
Verbs for Talking About House Parts
When discussing different parts of a house and what you can do there, it's useful to know some essential verbs. Below is a list of German verbs paired with their English translations that will help you describe activities related to houses and other everyday situations:
German Verb |
English Translation |
kaufen |
to buy |
mieten |
to rent |
bauen |
to build |
verkaufen |
to sell |
renovieren |
to renovate |
reparieren |
to repair |
einziehen |
to move in |
Verbs for Activities Inside the House
Inside the house, you'll need verbs to talk about various activities and daily routines. Here are some common German verbs along with their English equivalents:
German Verb |
English Translation |
putzen |
to clean |
entspannen |
to relax |
aufräumen |
to tidy up |
waschen |
to wash |
spielen |
to play |
kochen |
to cook |
wohnen |
to dwell |
leben |
to live |
backen |
to bake |
arbeiten |
to work |
schlafen |
to sleep |
aufwachsen |
to grow up |
bügeln |
to iron |
essen |
to eat |
Describing a House in German: Positive and Negative Adjectives
Positive Adjectives
When you want to compliment a house or its features in German, positive adjectives can help you express admiration and appreciation. Here are some commonly used positive adjectives along with their English translations:
German Adjective |
English Translation |
schön |
beautiful |
groß |
big |
gemütlich |
cozy |
modern |
modern |
elegant |
elegant |
schick |
fancy |
sauber |
clean |
gepflegt |
neat |
geräumig |
spacious |
hübsch |
pretty |
You can use these adjectives to describe various aspects of a house. Here are some example phrases:
German Phrase |
English Translation |
Dein Haus ist sehr schön. |
Your house is gorgeous. |
Ich liebe es, wie geräumig es hier ist. |
I love how spacious it is here. |
Die Wohnung sieht sehr modern und elegant aus. |
The apartment looks very modern and elegant. |
In dem Wohnzimmer ist es sehr gemütlich. |
It’s very cozy in the living room. |
Das Haus ist sehr hübsch eingerichtet. |
The house is very nicely decorated. |
Hast du einen Gärtner? Der Garten sieht sehr gepflegt aus. |
Do you have a gardener? Your garden looks very neat. |
Negative Adjectives
When you need to express negative opinions or criticisms about a house or its condition, negative adjectives come in handy. Here are some commonly used negative adjectives in German and their English translations:
German Adjective |
English Translation |
hässlich |
ugly |
altmodisch |
old-fashioned |
veraltet |
outdated |
teuer |
expensive |
klein |
small |
alt |
old |
ungepflegt |
neglected |
dunkel |
dark |
dreckig |
dirty |
Here are some examples of how to use these negative adjectives:
German Phrase |
English Translation |
Das Haus ist viel zu teuer. |
The house is way too expensive. |
Die Wohnung ist von Innen sehr dunkel. |
The inside of the apartment is very dark. |
Ich glaube, die Wohnung ist seit längerer Zeit ungepflegt. |
I think the apartment has been neglected for a long time. |
Es ist wirklich dreckig hier. |
It’s filthy here. |
Diese Bauart ist veraltet. |
This design is outdated. |
Types of Houses in German
When describing the type of house you live in or discussing different housing options in German, it's helpful to know the specific vocabulary for various types of homes.
Common Types of Houses
Here are the different types of houses you might encounter, along with their German names:
German Term |
English Translation |
Reihenhaus |
terraced house |
Einfamilienhaus |
detached house |
Zweifamilienhaus |
two-family house |
Doppelhaus |
semi-detached house |
Bungalow |
bungalow |
Wohnung |
flat |
Bauernhaus |
farmhouse |
Helpful Vocabulary
To describe your house or flat, you can use the following adjectives in German:
German Adjective |
English Translation |
bequem |
comfortable |
gemütlich |
cosy |
groß |
big |
modern |
modern |
riesig |
huge |
sehr alt |
very old |
schön |
nice |
winzig |
tiny |
ziemlich klein |
fairly small |
Use these phrases to describe what your house or flat is like:
Our house is...
Our flat is...
For example:
- Unser Haus ist sehr groß. (Our house is very big.)
- Unsere Wohnung ist gemütlich. (Our flat is cosy.)