Home and Local Area
Covers your house, room, town, and neighbourhood — regularly tested in reading and writing.
Types of Home
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| una casa (adosada) | a (semi-detached) house |
| un piso / un apartamento | a flat / apartment |
| un chalet | a detached house |
| una granja | a farm |
| un bloque de pisos | a block of flats |
| una vivienda social | council housing |
Rooms and Furniture
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| la cocina | kitchen |
| el salón / el cuarto de estar | living room |
| el comedor | dining room |
| el dormitorio / la habitación | bedroom |
| el cuarto de baño | bathroom |
| el jardín | garden |
| el garaje | garage |
| el desván | attic |
| el sótano | basement |
| la escalera | stairs |
| una cama | a bed |
| un armario | a wardrobe |
| un escritorio | a desk |
| una estantería | a bookshelf |
| un sofá | a sofa |
| una alfombra | a carpet / rug |
- Vivo en un piso grande con tres dormitorios. Mi habitación está en la segunda planta. — I live in a big flat with three bedrooms. My room is on the second floor.
- En mi habitación hay una cama, un escritorio y un armario. Las paredes son azules. — In my room there is a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. The walls are blue.
Describing Where You Live
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| en la ciudad / en las afueras | in the city / in the suburbs |
| en el campo | in the countryside |
| en la costa | on the coast |
| en el norte/sur/este/oeste | in the north/south/east/west |
| una ciudad / un pueblo | a city / a town or village |
| un barrio | a neighbourhood |
| animado/a | lively |
| tranquilo/a | quiet |
| ruidoso/a | noisy |
| contaminado/a | polluted |
| industrial / turístico/a | industrial / touristy |
| pintoresco/a | picturesque |
Local Facilities
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|
| una tienda | a shop | un supermercado | a supermarket |
| un centro comercial | a shopping centre | un mercado | a market |
| una biblioteca | a library | un museo | a museum |
| un cine | a cinema | un teatro | a theatre |
| un parque | a park | una piscina | a swimming pool |
| un polideportivo | a sports centre | un estadio | a stadium |
| un hospital | a hospital | una farmacia | a pharmacy |
| una estación | a station | una parada de autobús | a bus stop |
| una iglesia | a church | una mezquita | a mosque |
| el ayuntamiento | town hall | la comisaría | police station |
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Hay muchas cosas que hacer — un cine, restaurantes y un parque grande. — There are lots of things to do — a cinema, restaurants, and a big park.
- Está bien comunicado por transporte público. — It's well connected by public transport.
- El barrio es muy seguro y los vecinos son simpáticos. — The neighbourhood is very safe and the neighbours are friendly.
- No hay nada que hacer para los jóvenes. — There is nothing to do for young people.
- Hay demasiado ruido a causa del tráfico. — There is too much noise because of traffic.
- Hay mucha contaminación y faltan zonas verdes. — There is a lot of pollution and green spaces are lacking.
What You Would Change
- Si pudiera, me mudaría al campo porque es más tranquilo. — If I could, I would move to the countryside because it's quieter.
- Habría que construir más carriles bici y reducir el tráfico. — They should build more cycle lanes and reduce traffic.
- Me gustaría que hubiera más actividades para los jóvenes en mi barrio. — I would like there to be more activities for young people in my area. (subjunctive)
Exam Tips
- Use hay (there is/are) and no hay (there isn't/aren't) confidently — they are key structures.
- Practise prepositions: al lado de (next to), enfrente de (opposite), cerca de (near), lejos de (far from), entre (between).
- This topic links naturally to environment — pollution, transport, and green spaces.
- For writing, describe where you live now, then what you'd change — easy conditional practice.