HOUSE – DOM | AleKlasa

Types of accommodation

My father wants to buy a house but we haven’t decided yet what type of accommodation to look for. Dad wants to have a detached house in a quiet district, whereas mum would like a mansion in the suburbs. I know we can afford none of them and I’m sure we’ll have a terraced house with a small garden in a housing estate. In comparison to our present flat, it will be a castle. We live in a block of flats in a poor district. Our flat is dark, damp and uncomfortable. No wonder we want to change it.

Types of accommodation – Rodzaje miejsc zamieszkania

house – dom
flat/apartment – mieszkanie
bungalow – dom parterowy
detached house – dom jednorodzinny
semi-detached house – bliźniak
terraced houses – domki szeregowe
block of flats – blok mieszkalny
residential house – budynek mieszkalny
bedsit – kawalerka
studio – studio, kawalerka
penthouse – apartament na ostatnim piętrze
skyscraper – wieżowiec
villa – willa
cottage – dom wiejski
farmhouse – dom w gospodarstwie rolnym
manor house – rezydencja wiejska, dworek
mansion – rezydencja
castle – zamek
chalet – drewniana chata w górach
tenement house – kamienica czynszowa

PARTS OF THE HOUSE

I live in a small town. It takes me 20 minutes on foot to get to school. But I don’t mind walking. I always pass by the old house, which is so beautiful that I like to imagine it’s mine. It has walls covered with ivy, a red roof and two chimneys. There is a wooden porch out the front and a balcony on the first floor. I think nobody lives there as the gate is rotten and the front door is always locked. I’ve never been inside but I’m sure there’s a fireplace in the living room and an impressive staircase leading to the attic. If I had enough money, I’d certainly buy this house.

roof – dach
wall – ściana
floor – podłoga
stairs – schody
staircase – klatka schodowa
ground floor – parter
first floor – pierwsze piętro
landing – półpiętro, podest
ceiling – sufit
front door – drzwi wejściowe
entrance hall – hol wejściowy
passage – korytarz
balcony – balkon
terrace – taras
loft – strych
attic – poddasze
cellar/basement – piwnica
porch – ganek (US: weranda)
garage – garaż
chimney – komin
lift (US: elevator) – winda
gate – furtka, brama

LOCATION

In a city
I’m a typical city-dweller. I love the hustle and bustle of the large city. I live in a residential house in the centre so I don’t have to commute. I don’t mind the traffic, pollution and other disadvantages of living in the city because I have everything I need at hand. I often go to the cinema, theatre and shopping centres. It would be more complicated if I lived in the country.

In the country
I live in a small village surrounded by countryside. I’ve never thought of moving to the city as I love the peace and quiet of a rural area. I can breathe fresh air and go for long walks to the nearest forest.

We’ve got a little cottage in the country. It’s in a lovely position; right on the edge of a small lake, but it doesn’t get much sun, so it’s rather dark inside.

in a city – w mieście

in a large city – w dużym mieście
in a town – w małym mieście
in the centre – w centrum
in a housing estate – na osiedlu mieszkaniowym
in a poor district – w biednej dzielnicy
in a quiet district – w spokojnej dzielnicy
in the suburbs – na przedmieściu
on the outskirts – na peryferiach (sprawdzić)
close to public transport – blisko komunikacji miejskiej
quarter/ `district – dzielnica
neighbourhood – sąsiedztwo
main street – główna ulica
square – plac
avenue – aleja
The Old Town – Stare Miasto
capital – stolica
city-dweller – mieszkaniec miasta
traffic – ruch uliczny
fumes – spaliny
pollution – zanieczyszczenie
shopping centre – centrum handlowe
services – usługi
crowded – zatłoczony
hustle and bustle – zgiełk

in the country – na wsi

in a village – na wsi (w wiosce)
at the seaside – nad morzem
on the lake – nad jeziorem
in the mountains – w górach
resort – miejscowość wypoczynkowa
hamlet – mała wieś
villager – mieszkaniec wsi
picturesque – malowniczy
surroundings – otoczenie, okolica
rural – wiejski
peace and quiet – cisza i spokój
countryside – krajobraz, okolica wiejska
fresh air – świeże powietrze
commute – dojeżdżać (do pracy)

A HOUSE / A FLAT

If I won a million pounds, I’d buy a comfortable manor house for my parents because they’d love to live in the country. I’d choose a house with a view of the lake in picturesque surroundings. Then, I’d look for a luxurious penthouse in the capital for me and my girlfriend.

I’ve just moved to a house in the suburbs. It’s got four bedrooms and a large garden. It’s very spacious and there’s lots of room for the children. The sitting room faces south, so it’s fairly sunny.

A HOUSE/A FLAT – DOM/ MIESZKANIE

light – jasny
dark – ciemny
comfortable – wygodny
uncomfortable – niewygodny
spacious – przestronny
tidy – czysty, schludny
untidy – nieporządny, zaniedbany
cosy – przytulny
luxurious – luksusowy
sunny – słoneczny
quiet – cichy, spokojny
noisy – głośny, pełen zgiełku
damp – wilgotny
faces south – wychodzi na południe
looks out on the park – wychodzi na park
with a lovely view of… – z ładnym widokiem na…
in a lovely position – ładnie położony

ROOMS AT HOME

Living room / sitting room / lounge
It was my birthday last week and my Mum let me throw a party at home. Our lounge is quite big so I could invite a lot of people. The party started at 8 p.m. and everything seemed OK. I have good hi-fi equipment, an amplifier and powerful speakers, which are the essentials for a good party. I put some cushions on the floor because six chairs, two armchairs and a sofa wouldn’t be enough for such a crowd. We danced a lot and had a great time. But next morning I saw some wine stains on the carpet and a broken flower pot. I quickly cleaned the carpet but unfortunately, mum discovered other stains and some scratches on the coffee table. She was really furious.

Living room / sitting room / lounge – salon, pokój dzienny

coffee table – stolik
armchair – fotel
rocking chair – fotel na biegunach
sofa/settee – sofa
couch – kanapa
cushion – poduszka
shelves – półki
wall units – meble segmentowe
cocktail cabinet – barek
TV set – telewizor
remote control – pilot
hi-fi equipment – sprzęt hi-fi
amplifier – wzmacniacz
speaker – głośnik
video recorder – magnetowid
picture – obraz
plant pot – doniczka
net curtains – firanki
curtains – zasłony
carpet – dywan
fireplace – kominek
chandelier – żyrandol
floor lamp – lampa stojąca
radiator – kaloryfer
air conditioning – klimatyzacja

Bedroom – sypialnia

My bedroom is always untidy. I forget to make the bed or put my clothes into my chest of drawers or my wardrobe.bed – łóżko

double bed – łóżko dwuosobowe
quilt/duvet – kołdra
blanket – koc
pillow – poduszka
sheet – prześcieradło
bedding – pościel
mattress – materac
night table – stolik nocny
alarm clock – budzik
bedside lamp – lampka nocna
chest of drawers – komoda
wardrobe – szafa na ubrania
closet – szafa wnękowa
dressing table – toaletka
rug – dywanik

Study – gabinet, pokój do pracy

When my friends visit me I take them to the study. There are comfortable swivel chairs, a desk with a computer and a bookcase. The room is not as cosy as the bedroom but it is always tidy.

desk – biurko
swivel chair – krzesło obrotowe
computer – komputer
keyboard – klawiatura
mouse – myszka
printer – drukarka
scanner – skaner
bookcase – biblioteczka, regał
table lamp – lampa stołowa
wastepaper basket – kosz na papiery

Children’s room – pokój dziecięcy

When I’m tired and want to relax I usually go to my sister’s room. She’s only seven years old and she has the nicest room in our flat. It’s not big but it’s sunny and comfortable. She has plenty of teddy bears, puppets and dolls. I usually play board games or build castles from LEGO blocks, or I sometimes read children’s books to her. There’s also a rocking horse, but I’m too big to use it.

cot – łóżeczko dla niemowlaka
children’s bed – łóżko dziecięce
bunk bed – łóżko piętrowe
toys – zabawki
teddybear – miś pluszowy
doll – lalka
puppet – kukiełka
rocking horse – koń na biegunach
board game – gra planszowa
LEGO blocks – klocki LEGO
children’s book – książka dla dzieci

Kitchen – kuchnia

Although we have a well furnished dining room, we usually have dinners in the kitchen. My parents love cooking and they have everything that is important for a good dinner. We have not only an electric cooker, an oven and a pressure cooker, but also a fryer, a food processor and a mixer. My mother has already bought all sorts of frying pans, pots and saucepans. But she says she still needs a new casserole and kitchen scales. Our kitchen table is not as big as the one in the dining room but we prefer to eat in the kitchen because we have everything at hand. A coffee maker if we want more coffee, or a microwave oven if the food is too cold and needs warming up.

fridge – lodówka
freezer – zamrażarka
dishwasher – zmywarka do naczyń
sink – zlewozmywak
dish rack – suszarka
tap – kran, kurek
cupboard – kredens
cooker – kuchenka
oven – piekarnik
microvawe oven – kuchenka mikrofalowa
pressure cooker – szybkowar
fryer – frytkownica
mixer (US: blender) – mikser
food processor – robot kuchenny
mincer – maszynka do mielenia
toastber – toster
pot – garnek
saucepan – rondel
frying pan – patelnia
casserole – naczynie do zapiekania
lid – pokrywka
kettle – czajnik
coffee maker – ekspres do kawy
kitchen scales – waga kuchenna
dishcloth – ścierka do naczyń
kitchen table – stół kuchenny
stool – taboret
waste bin – kosz na odpadki

Dining room – jadalnia

What I like most in her house is the dining room. There’s not much furniture in the room: only a round oak table with comfortable antique chairs and an impressive sideboard. The floor is covered with a Persian rug and there’s a crystal chandelier at the ceiling. The absence of accessories keeps the look simple and elegant.

table – stół
chair – krzesło
high chair – krzesło do karmienia dziecka
tablecloth – obrus
sideboard – kredens
dining room suite – komplet mebli do jadalni

Bathroom – łazienka

I’m going to redecorate my bathroom. It’s very small so I’m going to get rid of the bathtub and have a shower cubicle installed. I’m also thinking of changing tiles because I’m bored with the red ones. Everything will be black and white. I’ve already seen reasonably priced bathroom cabinets. I’ll also change the mirror as I need a bigger one. Fortunately, my washing machine is quite good and I don’t need a dryer. But I’ll buy black and white towels because I want them to match the tiles and the furniture.

washbasin – umywalka
bath, bathtub – wanna
shower – prysznic
shower cubicle – kabina prysznicowa
towel – ręcznik
washing machine – pralka
dryer – suszarka
bathroom cabinet – szafka łazienkowa
mirror – lustro
hair dryer – suszarka do włosów
toilet – muszla klozetowa
toilet paper – papier toaletowy
tiles – kafelki

Other rooms – inne pomieszczenia

We need a new flat because our present one is too small for us. Every member of the family should have his own bedroom. I also want to have a store room where I could keep an iron, a drill, a broom and a vacuum cleaner. I’d like to have a utility room because I hate the sight of a washing machine and a dryer in the bathroom. It would be nice to have a larder next to the kitchen and a separate play room for children.

spare room/guest room – pokój gościnny
dining area – aneks jadalny
play room – pokój zabaw
store room – schowek
utility room – pomieszczenie gospodarcze
larder/pantry – spiżarnia
(window) sill – parapet
socket – gniazdko
central heating – centralne ogrzewanie
internal phone/intercome – domofon
wallpaper – tapeta
aerial – antena
vacuum cleaner/hoover – odkurzacz
broom – miotła
iron – żelazko
drill – wiertarka
stand – wieszak, stojak
blind – żaluzja
shutter – okiennica
doormat – wycieraczka do butów

A garden – ogród

My mother loves being outdoors in the fresh air, and she never gets tired of working with plants. We have a beautiful garden with flower-beds and a vegetable patch. It is surrounded by a high hedge. There is a small garden shed where my father keeps a lawnmower, a rake, a hoe and a spade. I also like spending my leisure time in the garden, but I prefer to relax on a deckchair. My parents have been thinking about a swimming pool and a greenhouse. I think it’s a very good idea.

garden chair – krzesło ogrodowe
deckchair – leżak
bench – ławka
flower-beds – grządki kwiatowe
vegetable patch – ogródek warzywny
lawn – trawnik
lawnmower – kosiarka
barbecue – grill
swimming pool – basen
swing – huśtawka
rake – grabie
hoe – motyka
spade – szpadel, łopata
garden shed – szopa na narzędzia
greenhouse – szklarnia, oranżeria
fence – ogrodzenie
hedge – żywopłot

TO LET A FLAT – WYNAJMOWAĆ MIESZKANIE

I’ve found a very interesting advertisement in a newspaper. Have a look at it: Three bedroom semi-detached house with gas central heating & double glazing. Entrance hall with laminate flooring. Lounge with bay window, feature fireplace & cable TV point. Separate dining room with patio doors to rear courtyard. Fully fitted kitchen with built in electric double oven & fridge freezer. Bathroom with bath, basin, W.C. & electric shower. £ 525 pcm. Available now. If you get promoted next month, we’ll rent it!

Dear Mary,
I’m going to rent a flat but you know I don’t earn much and I have to share the cost with somebody. Would you like to be my flatmate? I’ve already seen a nice two bedroom flat in Lexington. I know you are looking round for a flat and this offer is really interesting. The landlord told me we wouldn’t have to pay in advance and the rent is only £ 250 per month. It is a furnished flat with cooking facilities, an ample storage and a modern bathroom. Besides, it’s ideally placed for the access to the city. Think about it, please!

to rent – wynajmować (od kogoś)
to let – wynajmować (komuś), do wynajęcia
offer – oferta
owner – właściciel
landlord – gospodarz
landlady – gospodyni
tenant – najemca, lokator
rent contract – umowa najmu
a furnished flat – umeblowane mieszkanie
unfurnished – nieumeblowany
advertisement – ogłoszenie
to look round for a flat – rozglądać się za mieszkaniem
to pay rent – płacić czynsz
to pay in advance – płacić z góry
per month – miesięcznie
terms – warunki
deposit – kaucja, zadatek
additional costs – dodatkowe koszty
to share – dzielić, mieszkać z kimś
flatmate – współlokator
separate kitchen – osobna kuchnia
cooking facilities – sprzęt kuchenny
to give a flat notice – wypowiedzieć mieszkanie
notice period – okres wypowiedzenia
convenient for… – dogodny dla…

TO BUY / SELL A FLAT / HOUSE – KUPOWAĆ/SPRZEDAWAĆ MIESZKANIE/DOM

We had to sell our old house last year. It wasn’t easy but we finally found a buyer. Mrs. Smith, who works as an agent for A & M estate agency, really helped us. And the commission we had to pay wasn’t very high.

I’d like to invite you to a housewarming party because we’ve just moved into our new flat. We’ve been very busy lately. First, we had to apply for a loan and find a flat which would satisfy all members of the family. Then we had to sign hundreds of documents in the notary’s office and find a good removal company. But it’s all over now, and we can enjoy ourselves in our new flat on Friday.

for sale – na sprzedaż
buyer – kupujący
seller – sprzedający
housing offers – oferty mieszkaniowe
estate agency – agencja nieruchomości
agent – agent, przedstawiciel
commission – prowizja
survey – ekspertyza, opinia biegłego
mortgage – hipoteka, kredyt
loan – pożyczka
notary – notariusz
removal company – firma zajmująca się przeprowadzkami
to move into a new flat – wprowadzić się do nowego mieszkania
housewarming party – parapetówka