Different Types of Houses with Names and Pictures

Houses come in many types based on size, style, material, and location. Some are built for cities, others for forests, deserts, or rivers. In this post, you will learn the different types of houses names in English with pictures. Each name is grouped and explained to help learners recognize, spell, and use them correctly. This topic supports vocabulary building for students, ESL learners, and picture-based learning tasks.

Common House Types Names in English with Pictures

These are the most recognized types of houses used in cities, towns, villages, and temporary shelters.

Permanent Houses (Built to Last Long)

  • Bungalow – A single-story house with a wide front porch
  • Apartment – A home inside a large building with many other units
  • Villa – A large, standalone house often with garden space
  • Duplex – A building divided into two living units
  • Mansion – A very large and expensive residential house

Temporary or Movable Houses

  • Tent – A portable shelter made of cloth or fabric
  • Caravan – A mobile home pulled by a vehicle
  • Mobile Home – A trailer-style home that can be moved
  • Houseboat – A floating home built on water

Traditional and Regional Houses

  • Igloo – A dome-shaped house made of ice blocks (used in polar areas)
  • Yurt – A round tent used in Central Asia
  • Hut – A small, simple shelter made of mud, wood, or leaves
  • Stilt House – A home raised on posts, often found near water or wet areas
  • Mud House – A home made from clay, mud, and straw, common in warm regions

Modern House Styles in Urban Areas

  • Townhouse – A narrow, tall house attached to others in a row
  • Studio Apartment – A small home with one main room
  • Penthouse – The top-floor luxury apartment in a building
  • Container Home – A house made from repurposed shipping containers
types of houses with names for kids
types of houses with names for kids

Types of Houses Based on Building Material

Houses are built using different materials depending on the climate, location, and cost. Learning the names of houses based on what they are made of helps students understand both vocabulary and structure.

Wooden Houses

These houses are made using timber or logs. They are common in forests, cold areas, and mountain regions.

  • Log Cabin
  • Wooden Cottage
  • Timber Frame House

Brick and Concrete Houses

These are the most common in cities and towns. They are strong, durable, and often have more than one floor.

  • Bungalow
  • Apartment
  • Duplex
  • Villa

Metal and Prefab Houses

Made from steel, aluminum, or prefab panels, these houses are used when quick or mobile building is needed.

  • Container Home
  • Mobile Home
  • Prefab Steel House

Natural Material Houses (Mud, Ice, Bamboo, Straw)

Built using locally available materials, these homes are often found in villages, hot regions, or cold zones.

  • Mud House
  • Igloo
  • Hut
  • Bamboo House
  • Thatched Roof House

House Types by Region or Climate

The design of a house often depends on the weather and landscape where it is built. Different climates need different materials, shapes, and building styles. This section introduces common house types based on region or climate, with simple meanings to support vocabulary learning.

Cold Region House Types

These houses are built to keep heat inside and protect people from snow, wind, and freezing temperatures. They often have thick walls, small windows, and sloped roofs.

  • Igloo
  • Log Cabin
  • Stone House

Desert and Hot Region Houses

These homes are designed to stay cool inside, even in extreme heat. They often use mud, clay, or thick walls to block heat.

  • Mud House
  • Flat Roof House
  • Courtyard House

Coastal and Water-Based Homes

Built near rivers, lakes, or the sea, these houses are protected against flooding, humidity, and water damage.

  • Stilt House
  • Houseboat
  • Fishing Shack

Forest and Mountain Houses

In areas with trees, hills, or slopes, houses are designed to be warm, safe, and blended with nature.

  • Wooden Cabin
  • Chalet
  • Cottage

Full List of House Types with Pictures and Meanings

House TypeDescriptionCategory
BungalowSingle-story house with porchPermanent
ApartmentUnit in a multi-floor buildingUrban/Modern
VillaLuxury home with yard or poolPermanent
DuplexTwo units in one buildingUrban/Shared
MansionVery large and expensive homeLuxury
TentPortable fabric shelterTemporary
CaravanMobile trailer homeMovable
Mobile HomeFixed wheels homeMovable
HouseboatHome that floats on waterWater-based
IglooIce-block shelterCold region
YurtRound tent from Central AsiaTraditional
HutSmall mud or stick shelterTraditional/Village
Stilt HouseHome raised above ground/waterCoastal/Flood area
Mud HouseEarth-made wallsWarm/dry region
TownhouseRow house with shared wallsUrban
Studio ApartmentSmall flat with one roomUrban
PenthouseTop-floor apartmentUrban/Luxury
Container HomeHome made from steel containersModern/Eco-friendly
Log CabinWooden home in forest or mountainCold/Forest
CottageSmall cozy countryside homeRural

FAQs About Types of Houses in English

What are the 10 most common house types?

Bungalow, Apartment, Villa, Duplex, Mansion, Tent, Caravan, Igloo, Hut, and Townhouse.

Which house types are used in villages?

Hut, Mud House, Bamboo House, and sometimes Stilt Houses.

Are all house names the same worldwide?

No. Some house types and names change based on region, climate, and language.

What house types are good for learning English?

Start with Bungalow, Apartment, Tent, Igloo, Hut, and Villa — short, common, and easy to remember.

Read More

About the author

Muhammad Asim

Asim is a blogger, freelance ESL and IELTS trainer and a software engineer graduated from the top ranked varsity of Pakistan. Asim is keenly interested to write blogs and loves to create content for audience. He has been conducting online sessions for training individuals and groups for IELTS and ESL. He is active on social media with a fan following of almost 2.5M people around the globe.