Housing

MY APARTMENT / HOUSE

I live in an apartment building near the town center. Our apartment is situated on the 3rd floor, which is the top floor. The apartment is very modern and in very good condition. It has 2
balconies; one is smaller, and the second one is a little bit bigger.

It’s easy to heat our apartment because we have central heating with large radiators and a
fireplace too. It is very quiet, bright, and cozy. There are two bedrooms, a large living room, a
dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a pantry.

US = an apartment building / UK = a block of flats

US = an apartment / UK = a flat

TYPES OF HOUSES: Various Places Where People Live

a detached house – It stands by itself and is not attached to another house.
a semi-detached house – Two houses joined together by a common wall.
townhouses (US) / terraced houses (UK) – Several houses joined together in a row to form a street.
a cottage – A small house in the countryside or in a village.
a penthouse – It is situated high above the city with a beautiful view of the countryside.
a studio apartment – A small apartment with one main room used for cooking, sleeping, and
living.
a bungalow – A house with only one floor; there is no upstairs.
a villa / mansion – A large and expensive house with front and back yards. It also has a patio with patio furniture and a pool.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES / TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In our family, we all have daily and weekly tasks to complete.
We:

  • make the beds
  • do the ironing
  • prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • wash the dishes
  • do the laundry
  • water the houseplants
  • go grocery shopping
  • vacuum the floors
  • empty the trash bin / take the rubbish out (UK)
  • mop the floor
  • sweep the floor with a broom
  • dry the dishes
  • set the table
  • clean the windows
  • tidy up our rooms
  • dust the furniture
  • fold laundry after washing
  • walk the dog / take the dog for a walk (UK)

The KITCHEN is the favorite room in our family’s home.

It’s where everyone comes together – our family and friends. It’s always full of people and noise. It’s a good-sized room, not too big or small.

Here’s what you can find in our kitchen:

  • Four comfy chairs around a large rectangular table.
  • There’s a big window above the stove / cooker (UK) and sink.
  • We have many electric appliances, like an oven, microwave, kettle, dishwasher, and more.
  • Our cabinet holds lots of stuff: bowls, plates, knives, forks, spoons, mugs, cups, pots, pans, and tools like can openers.
  • There’s also a dish towel for drying dishes, a grater for cheese, a colander for draining water, a peeler for taking skin off fruits, a wooden spoon, and a trash can for garbage / a litter bin (UK).

The kitchen is where we all gather. It’s a happy place where we chat, cook, and enjoy tasty food together.

Our LIVING ROOM (lounge) has recently been furnished and includes:

  • A large leather sofa with two armchairs and many colorful cushions.
  • A dresser, a closet, and a round coffee table.
  • Ceiling lights and wall lights illuminate the room.
  • Along the wall, there is a big bookcase with numerous intriguing books.
  • The walls display beautiful paintings and photos of our family.
  • My mom loves houseplants, so our living room is filled with them.
  • There are also the drapes / curtain (UK) and shades / blinds (UK) on the windows.
  • We also have modern electronic gadgets in our living room, including a television, a streaming device, a soundbar, and wireless speakers.

We enjoy spending time in this room. It’s a place where we can relax, watch TV, listen to music, read books or magazines, or simply take a nap.

Our BATHROOM isn’t very large.

  • It includes a shower, a bathtub, a sink / basin (UK) with a mirror above it, and a toilet.
  • You’ll find towels for drying your body, soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, body lotion, a hairbrush or a comb, tissues, perfume, and a razor for men.

In the bathroom, we:

  • Brush our teeth
  • Take a bath
  • Take a shower
  • Wash up after work / school
  • Shave
  • Get dressed
  • Get undressed
  • Comb our hair

I’d like to describe my BEDROOM.

  • It has been newly decorated and furnished.
  • It includes a twin bed with a fitted sheet, two pillows, and a comforter (UK = quilt)
  • There’s a nightstand / bedside table (UK) with a bedside lamp, a big closet / wardrobe (UK),and a chest of drawers.
  • In one corner of the room, there’s a desk with a chair, a computer, and a desk lamp.
  • On the walls, you’ll find numerous posters of my favorite singers and pop bands.

My bedroom serves as a space where I:

  • Sleep
  • Play computer games
  • Do my homework
  • Chat with my friends online
  • Read books
  • Dream about my promising future
  • Listen to music

Sometimes, common problems arise in our household.
For instance:

  • The lamp isn’t working, and I try to change the light bulb.
  • The radiator is leaking or there’s a dripping faucet (UK = tap). In those cases, I call a plumber who repairs it.
  • The TV isn’t working properly, and I call an electrician who repairs it.
  • There’s a stain on the carpet that we try to remove with some detergent.
  • Sometimes, the desk gets scratched, and my dad and I try to fix it.
  • The bedroom needs to be redecorated, so I assist my father with the task.
  • When there’s an issue with the door, I apply oil to the hinges.
  • Occasionally, I use a hammer to drive in a nail, and I use a drill to make a hole.
  • The drawer is jammed/stuck (UK).

EXTERIOR

Both Slovaks and British people love gardening. Slovaks tend to have bigger gardens
behind their houses, and they spend quite a lot of time growing vegetables and fruit.

There is a lot of work around the house:

  • mowing the lawn,
  • sowing seeds,
  • weeding the flower beds, planting flowers and watering them,
  • building a greenhouse,
  • building a summerhouse / a gazebo for relaxation,
  • trimming the hedge,
  • cutting tree branches.

BUYING A HOUSE / FLAT

Currently, it is not easy to buy a flat or a house. The prices of property are extremely high. It is impossible for a young family to buy a flat without their parents’ help or a mortgage. They have to pay it off in regular monthly installments.

Some houses are shared by two families (grandparents, their children, and grandchildren). They often take out a loan for the reconstruction of the house or the flat.

These days, living in rented flats and houses is becoming quite normal, especially for younger families.

LIVING IN TOWNS AND CITIES

We all are very much influenced by the place where we grow up. Living in towns and cities has both advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand:

  • there are many job opportunities,
  • better schooling possibilities,
  • opportunities to have a rich social life (many cultural events are held there, such as
    concerts, operas, theater performances, and so on), and sports facilities (a swimming pool, tennis courts, stadium, an ice rink, and others),
  • there are many shopping malls where one can buy all sorts of goods under one roof,
  • there are usually a few local hospitals that provide healthcare,
  • public transport connection is fine,
  • you get a lot of privacy.

On the other hand:

  • city inhabitants live in a polluted, noisy, crowded, and hectic place, the air is often
    polluted by fumes from factories and cars,
  • there is a high rate of crime caused by pickpockets, shoplifters, burglars, drug
    dealers (it is not an ideal place to raise children), homelessness is another big
    problem,
  • there are traffic jams
  • problems with parking,
  • cost of living is high

Proverbs about how special home is:

  • East or west, home is best.
  • My home is my castle.
  • There is no place like home.
  • Home is where the heart is.
  • Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.

Vocabulary

Types of houses

1. detached house [dɪˈtæʧt haʊs] sksamostatne stojaci dom
2. semi-detached house [ˈsɛmi-dɪˈtæʧt haʊs] skdvojdom
3. terraced house (UK) [ˈtɛrəst haʊs] / townhouses (US) [ˈtaʊnˌhaʊsɪz] skradovka
4. bungalow [ˈbʌŋɡəˌloʊ] skjednopodlažný dom
5. cottage [ˈkɑtəʤ] skchalupa, vidiecky dom
6. villa [ˈvɪlə] / mansion [ˈmænʃən] skvila, rezidencia
7. skyscraper [ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər] skmrakodrap
8. block of flats (UK) [blɑk ʌv flæts] / apartment building (US) [əˈpɑrtmənt ˈbɪldɪŋ] skbytovka
9. studio flat (UK) [ˈstudiˌoʊ flæt] / studio apartment (US) [ˈstudiˌoʊ əˈpɑrtmənt] skgarsónka
10. penthouse [ˈpɛntˌhaʊs] skstrešný byt

block of flats
Household chores skdomáce práce

11. to cut the grass [tu kʌt ðə ɡræs] skkosiť trávu
12. to walk the dog [tu wɔk ðə dɔɡ] skvenčiť psa
13. to do the hoovering [tu du ðə ˈhuvərɪŋ] / vacuum the floor [ˈvækjum ðə flɔr] skvysávať
14. to tidy up rooms [tu ˈtaɪdi ʌp rumz] skupratať izby
15. to do the washing [tu du ðə ˈwɑʃɪŋ] / do the laundry [du ðə ˈlɔndri] skprať
16. to do the shopping [tu du ðə ˈʃɑpɪŋ] / to go grocery shopping sknakupovať
17. to make the bed [tu meɪk ðə bɛd] skpostielať
18. to water the house plants [tu ˈwɔtər ðə haʊs plænts] skpolievať kvety
19. to chill out [tu ʧɪl aʊt] / to relax [tu rɪˈlæks] skoddychovať
20. to do the washing-up [tu du ðə ˈwɑʃɪŋ-ʌp] skumývať riad
21. to take the rubbish out [tu teɪk ðə ˈrʌbɪʃ aʊt] / to empty the trash bin skvyniesť smeti
22. to dust the furniture [tu dʌst ðə ˈfɜrnɪʧər] skutierať prach

to walk the dog
Bedroom + bathroom

23. sofa [ˈsoʊfə] skgauč
24. comfy armchair [ˈkʌmfi ˈɑrmˌʧɛr] skpohodlné kreslo
25. cushions [ˈkʊʃənz] skvakúše
26. ceiling lamp (UK) [ˈsilɪŋ læmp] / ceiling light (US) [ˈsilɪŋ laɪt] skluster
27. toothbrush [ˈtuθbrəʃ] skzubná kefka
28. toothpaste [ˈtuθˌpeɪst] skzubná pasta
29. house plants [haʊs plænts] skrastliny
30. mirror [ˈmɪrər] skzrkadlo
31. comb [koʊm] skhrebeň
32. shower [ˈʃaʊər] sksprcha
33. bar of soap [bɑr ʌv soʊp] skmydlo
34. scissors [ˈsɪzərz] sknožnice
35. decorating [ˈdɛkəˌreɪtɪŋ] skmaľovanie (stien)
36. washing machine [ˈwɑʃɪŋ məˈʃin] skpráčka
37. chest of drawers [ʧɛst ʌv drɔrz] skkomoda
38. cuddly toys [ˈkʌdli tɔɪz] skplyšáky
39. wash basin (UK) [wɑʃ ˈbeɪsən] / sink (US) [sɪŋk] skumývadlo
40. towel [ˈtaʊəl] skuterák
41. stain on the carpet [steɪn ɑn ðə ˈkɑrpət] skškvrna na koberci
42. scratched table [skræʧt ˈteɪbəl] skpoškriabaný stôl
43. swivel chair [ˈswɪvəl ʧɛr] skstolička na kolieskach
44. leaking radiator [ˈlikɪŋ ˈreɪdiˌeɪtər] sktečúci radiátor
45. dripping tap (UK) [ˈdrɪpɪŋ tæp] / dripping faucet (US) [ˈdrɪpɪŋ ˈfɔsət] skkvapkajúci kohútik
46. bunk bed [bʌŋk bɛd] skposchodová posteľ
47. broken toilet [ˈbroʊkən ˈtɔɪlət] skpokazené WC
48. blinds [blaɪndz] skžalúzie
49. wardrobe (UK) [ˈwɔrˌdroʊb] / closet (US) [ˈklɑzət] skskriňa na oblečenie
50. bed linen [bɛd ˈlɪnən] skposteľná bielizeň
51. bath (UK) [bæθ] / bathtub (US) [ˈbæθtəb] skvaňa
52. stuck drawer (UK) [stʌk drɔr] / jammed drawer (US) [ʤæmd drɔr] skzaseknutý šuplík

Bedroom bathroom
Kitchen

53. pot [pɑt] skhrniec
54. bowl [boʊl] skmiska
55. cup [kʌp] skšálka
56. cutlery (fork, knife, spoon) [ˈkʌtləri] skpríbor (vidlička, nôž, lyžica)
57. kitchen units (UK) [ˈkɪʧən ˈjunəts] / kitchen cabinets (US) [ˈkɪʧən ˈkæbənəts] skkuchynská linka
58. rectangular table [rɛkˈtæŋɡjələr ˈteɪbəl] skobdĺžnikový stôl
59. round table [raʊnd ˈteɪbəl] skokrúhly stôl
60. curtains [ˈkɜrtənz] skzáclony
61. chair [ʧɛr] skstolička
62. apron [ˈeɪprən] skzástera
63. microwave oven [ˈmaɪkrəˌweɪv ˈʌvən] skmikrovlnka
64. cooker (UK) [ˈkʊkər] / stove (US) [stoʊv] sksporák
65. electric appliances [ɪˈlɛktrɪk əˈplaɪənsəz] skelektrické spotrebiče
66. peeler [ˈpilər] skškrabka
67. frying pan [ˈfraɪɪŋ pæn] / pan [pæn] skpanvica
68. rubbish bin (UK) [ˈrʌbɪʃ bɪn] / trash can (US) [træʃ kæn] skodpadkový kôš
69. blender [ˈblɛndər] skelektrický mixér
70. dishwasher [ˈdɪˌʃwɑʃər] skumývačka riadu
71. squeezer [ˈskwizər] skodšťavovač
72. opener [ˈoʊpənər] skotvarák
73. mug [mʌɡ] skhrnček
74. tray [treɪ] sktácka, podnos
75. wooden spoon [ˈwʊdən spun] skvareška
76. tea towel (UK) [ti ˈtaʊəl] / dish towel (US) [dɪʃ ˈtaʊəl] skkuchynská utierka
77. kettle [ˈkɛtəl] skrýchlovarná kanvica
78. freezer [ˈfrizər] skmraznička
79. grater [ˈɡreɪtər] skstrúhadlo na syr
80. sink [sɪŋk] skdrez
81. lid [lɪd] / pot lid [pɑt lɪd] skpokrievka
82. colander [ˈkɑləndər] / strainer [ˈstreɪnər] skcedák
83. glass [ɡlæs] skpohár
84. illuminate [ɪˈlumɪnɪt] skosvetliť
85. to get dressed [tu ɡɛt drɛst] skobliecť sa
86. to get undressed [tu ɡɛt ənˈdrɛst] skzobliecť sa
87. pillow [ˈpɪloʊ] skvankúš na spanie
88. issue [ˈɪʃu] skproblém
89. to apply oil to the hinges sknaolejovať pánty
90. to fix [tu fɪks] skopraviť
91. to assist [tu əˈsɪst] skpomáhať

kitchen
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