English-German Glossary House and Apartment

What do you call the different parts of your home and its furnishings in German? If you are moving into a house or apartment in a German-speaking country, you will need to become familiar with these terms. You will see the English term and the matching German one. If there is an abbreviation that is often seen in classified ads, it is included in parentheses. Terms for Dwellings What do you call a house, apartment, or flat?  You will need these terms when you refer to where you live, as well as for looking for a living space. apartment, flat  die Wohnung  (-en)apartment share/roommates  die Wohngemeinschaft  (WG)communal apartment  die Wohngemeinschaft  (WG)condo, condominium  die Eigentumswohnung3-room apartment  das 3-Zimmerwohnungstudio apartment/flat, bedsit  das Atelier,  das Apartment/Appartement,  das Wohnschlafzimmer,  die Einzimmerwohnungbedsit (BE), studio apartment/flat  das Apartment/Appartement,  das Atelier,  das Wohnschlafzimmer,  die Einzimmerwohnungflat, apartment  die  Wohnung  (-en)floor (story)  die Etage,  der Stockground floor  das Erdgeschoss,  die Parterre  the 1st floor (Brit.)  der erste Stockthe 1st floor (US)  das Erdgeschoss  (ground floor)on the 4th floor  im vierten Stockon the 4th floor  im 4. OG  (Obergeschoss)on the 4th floor  in der vierten Etage  (eh-TAHJ-ah) Kultur:  Everyone but Americans numbers building floors by calling the first floor above the ground the first floor (der erste Stock). If youre American, when dealing with German or European floors, remember that an American second floor is the first - and so on. Same thing applies to elevator buttons! (E is the ground floor -  das Erdgeschoss, or sometimes P for French  Parterre, or 0  null.) floor plan  der Grundriss  (eines Stockwerks)house  das Haus  (Hà ¤user)at my/our house  bei mir/unsto my/our house  zu mir/unshouse and home  Haus und Hofhousing  die Wohnungnen  (pl.), (shelter)  die Unterkunftland, property  das Grundstà ¼ckneighbor  der Nachbar  (-en),  die Nachbarin  (-nen)renovated, remodeled  renoviert,  saniertrow house, attached house  das  Reihenhaus  (-hà ¤user)vacant, available  freiyear of construction  das Baujahr   Parts of a House From roof to basement, know what to call different rooms and elements of a house. attic  der Dachboden,  der Speicherattic apartment, mansard flat  die Mansardeattic floor, level  das Dachgeschoss  (DG)balcony der Balkon (-s or -e)basement, cellar der Keller (-)bath, bathroom das Bad, das Badezimmer (-)WC, toilet  das WC  (-s),  die Toilette  (-n) Kultur: A Bad or Badezimmer is strictly that, a BATH room (for bathing, washing up). If you actually want the toilet, ask for die Toilette, not das Badezimmer. Germans may wonder why you want to take a bath if you ask for the bath room. bedroom  das Schlafzimmer  (-)built-in cabinets  die Einbauschrà ¤nkebuilt-in closets  die Einbaugarderobenbuilt-in kitchen  die Einbaukà ¼cheelevator  der Aufzug,  der Fahrstuhl,  der Lift Kultur:  Dont be surprised if your German apartment house has no  Aufzug, even if your apartment is on the 5th or 6th floor! Older German apartment complexes of six floors or less may have no elevator. entrance, entry  der Eingangseparate entrance  eigener Eingangentry hall  die Diele  (-n),  der Flurfloor (surface)  der Fußbodenwood floors, parquet  der Parkettfußbodenfloor tile  die Fliese  (-n)flooring, floor covering  der Fußbodenbelaggarage  die Garage  (of a house)garret, mansard flat  die Mansardehalf-basement, basement flat  das Souterrain  (-s)hall, hallway  der Flurinsulation  die Isolierung,  die Dà ¤mmungsound insulation, soundproofing  die Schalldà ¤mpfungpoorly insulated (for sound), lacking soundproofing  hellhà ¶rigkitchen  die Kà ¼che  (-n)kitchenette  die Kochnische  (-n)living room  das Wohnzimmer  (-)office  das Bà ¼ro  (-s)office, workroom  das Arbeitszimmer  (-)parking space  der Stellplatz  (-plà ¤tze)patio, terrace  die Terrasse  (-n)laundry room  die Waschkà ¼che  (-n)room  das Zimmer  (-),  der Raumshower  die Duscheshower room  der Duschraumstorage room  de r Abstellraum  (-rà ¤ume)underground parking (garage)  die Tiefgarage  (-n)window  das Fenster  (-)workroom, office, study  das Arbeitszimmer  (-) Household Furnishings Be aware that some German apartments are sold bare - with no light fixtures or even the proverbial kitchen sink! Read your  Kaufvertrag  (sales contract) carefully to avoid having to wash the dishes in the bathroom by candlelight after you move into your new apartment. furnished  mà ¶bliert Note:  Furnished apartments are rare in Germany.bath towel das Badetuchbed das Bett (-en)carpet, carpeting der Teppich (-e)carpeted floors der Teppichbodenfitted carpet/wall-to-wall carpeting der Teppichbodenchair der Stuhl (Stà ¼hle)chaise lounge/longue, lounge chair, deck chair  der Liegestuhl (-stà ¼hle)(clothes) closet, wardrobe der Kleiderschrank (-schrà ¤nke), die Garderobe (-n) Kultur: German houses and apartments rarely have built-in closets (Einbaugarderobe). They are usually free-standing pieces of furniture that must be bought, just as a bed or any other furniture. couch  die Couch  (-en  or -s) - in Swiss German  Couch  is masc.curtain  der Vorhang  (-hà ¤nge),  die Gardine  (-n)lace/net curtains  die Gardinencurtain rod/rail  die Vorhangstange  (-n),  die Gardinenstange  (-n)desk  der Schreibtisch  (-e)kitchen sink  das Spà ¼lbecken  (-)lamp  die Lampe  (-n),  die Leuchte  (floor lamp)light  das Licht  (-er),  die Leuchte  (-n) (lamp)lighting  die Beleuchtungmedicine chest  der Arzneischrank,  die Hausapothekeplug, elec. outlet  die Steckdoseplug (elec.)  der Steckershelf, shelving  das Regal  (-e)bookshelf  das Bà ¼cherregalsink (kitchen)  das Spà ¼lbecken  (-)sink, wash basin  das Waschbecken  (-)sofa  das Sofa  (-s)telephone  das Telefon  (-e)television set  der Fernseher  (-),  das Fernsehgerà ¤t  (-e)tile  die Fliese  (-n)tile(d) floor  der Fliesenbodentoilet, WC  die Toilette  (-n),  das WC  (-s)toilet seat  die Toilettenbril le  (-n)towel  das Badetuch  (bath towel),  das Handtuch  (hand towel)towel rack  der Handtuchhaltervase  die Vase  (-n)wash basin, sink  das  Waschbecken Household Appliances These appliances and pieces of equipment may not come with your dwelling. Be sure to check your purchase agreement. clothes washer, washing machine die Waschmaschinedishwasher  die Spà ¼lmaschine,  der Geschirrspà ¼lerfreezer  der Tiefkà ¼hlschrankfreezer chest  die Tiefkà ¼hltruherefrigerator  der Kà ¼hlschrankgas heat  die  Gasheizungheat, heating  die Heizungstove (heat)  der Ofenkitchen stove, range  der Herdoven (baking, roasting)  der Backofenmower, lawn mower  der Rasenmà ¤her  (-) Financial Terms These words will be important when you are making the deal or paying for your housing. deposit die Kaution (KT)down payment die Anzahlunglandlord der Vermieter, die Vermieterinrenter, tenant der Mieter (-), die Mieterin (-nen)