villa
/ˈvɪlə/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɪlə] /ˈvɪlə/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɪlə] /ˈvi-lə/ (ame, mw)
villa — noun
- villasingular
- villasplural
1. a private home in a sunny region, often near a coast, which travellers can pay t
a private home in a sunny region, often near a coast, which travellers can pay to use as a place to stay during a holiday
Amira booked a villa in Tuscany for her family's summer holiday.
villa + in + location for holiday
The villa has a private pool and a terrace overlooking the sea.
villa with private pool / terrace
The Okonkwo family rented a small villa near Barcelona for two weeks in July.
The holiday villa we rented had a kitchen, so we cooked fresh pasta nightly.
Naoko and her friends shared a villa in the Greek islands last August.
- holiday home
broader term — can be an apartment or cottage, not only a villa
- vacation rental
American English; focuses on the transaction, not the building style
- beach house
specifically a seaside property, which a villa may or may not be
文法句型
villa + preposition (in / near / with)
用法筆記
In travel contexts, this sense implies a self-catering property with its own private outdoor space — distinct from a hotel room or a rented apartment in a large block.
常見錯誤
2. a spacious home set in its own grounds, located away from cities, most typical o
a spacious home set in its own grounds, located away from cities, most typical of warm Mediterranean areas
The old stone villa stood among olive trees and rose gardens.
stone villa + stood among [nature]
Christopher inherited a country villa in the hills of Provence.
country villa + in the hills of [region]
Elena's family has owned a large villa outside Madrid for three generations.
The driveway of the century-old family villa was lined with cypress trees and lavender bushes.
The Mendes family bought a villa in the Portuguese countryside with a vineyard attached.
- country house
general term; villa adds a Mediterranean or continental European feel
- manor
historically the main house of a landed estate; more formal and older than villa
- estate
emphasises the land and property together rather than just the building
- cottage
much smaller, simpler home, usually in the countryside
文法句型
villa + preposition (in / outside / with / surrounded by)
用法筆記
More common in British English than American English, where terms such as 'country house' or 'estate' are preferred. In southern Europe, a villa in this sense is typically a permanent residence, not a rental property.
常見錯誤
3. a sizable dwelling from the period of ancient Rome, typically built around a cen
a sizable dwelling from the period of ancient Rome, typically built around a central courtyard and surrounded by farmland or workshops
Archaeologists uncovered a Roman villa with mosaic floors near Pompeii.
Roman villa + with mosaic floors
The Roman villa had its own baths, kitchens, and rooms for workers.
Roman villa + had [baths / kitchens / workers' rooms]
Walid visited a well-preserved Roman villa during his trip to Sicily.
The wealthy owner of a Roman villa often managed hundreds of acres of land.
Visitors can walk through the ruins of a Roman villa and see ancient wall paintings.
- Roman estate
emphasises the land and agricultural operations, not just the house
- Roman farmstead
more functional term for a working agricultural villa
文法句型
Roman + villa
villa + preposition (with / near / outside)
用法筆記
Almost always requires the modifier 'Roman' to distinguish this historical sense from the modern senses. The term 'villa' alone in contemporary English does not refer to ancient buildings.
常見錯誤
4. a grand, often historic residence within a city, usually with multiple floors an
a grand, often historic residence within a city, usually with multiple floors and a small front or rear garden
Hana lives in a Victorian villa near the park in north London.
Victorian villa + near [landmark]
The street is lined with elegant nineteenth-century villas painted in pastel colours.
nineteenth-century villas
Ryan converted an old town villa into a boutique hotel with eight rooms.
Large city villas from the Edwardian era still stand along the leafy avenues.
Tanvi bought a three-storey villa in Edinburgh and restored the original fireplaces.
- townhouse
modern term for a city home sharing walls with neighbours, often less grand than a villa
- city mansion
even larger and more luxurious than a town villa
- apartment
a unit within a larger building, not a standalone house with garden
文法句型
Victorian / Edwardian / town + villa
villa + preposition (in / near / on)
用法筆記
Particularly common in British English to describe Victorian or Edwardian suburban houses built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In modern estate-agent language, 'villa' in a city context may suggest a detached or semi-detached property with a garden, as opposed to a terraced house.