Parts of a Building: Names, Functions and Hindi Meanings

Site engineers, contractors and homeowners in India mix English, Hindi and local site words for the same element, so a “lintel” on the drawing can become “sardal” on site and “lintar” in conversation. This guide names each part of a typical Indian house, shows where it sits, explains what it does, and gives the Hindi name you are likely to hear.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

Parts of a building with Hindi names: quick table

Spoken site language varies by region. Drawings, estimates and tender documents use the English names, so always confirm the element on the drawing.

Substructure: the parts below the plinth

1. Foundation and footing (नींव)

The foundation is the lowest part of the building. It takes the total load of the structure and spreads it over enough soil area that the soil does not settle or fail. In a framed (RCC) house, each column usually ends in a footing, a widened concrete pad. Common types in Indian houses are isolated footings under single columns, combined footings where two columns are close together, a raft foundation on weak soil, and pile foundations where firm soil is deep. For typical sizes in a small house, see footing size for a 2-storey house.

In older load-bearing houses, the foundation is a stepped strip of brick or stone masonry under every wall instead of separate footings.

2. Plinth (कुर्सी)

The plinth is the part of the building between the surrounding ground level and the ground-floor level. Raising the floor above the ground keeps out surface water, insects and splash. Many building bye-laws set a minimum plinth height above the road or surrounding ground, commonly around 450 mm; check your local rule, and raise it further on low-lying or flood-prone plots. The covered area measured at this level is the plinth area, which is used in cost estimates and approvals.

3. Plinth beam

In a framed house, a plinth beam is an RCC beam at plinth level that connects the columns. It ties the columns together, reduces uneven settlement between them, and gives the ground-floor walls a level base to sit on.

4. Damp proof course (DPC)

The DPC is a thin waterproof layer laid across the full width of the walls at plinth level. It stops moisture from the soil rising up the wall by capillary action, which otherwise causes damp patches, peeling paint and salt marks (efflorescence) at the bottom of walls. On Indian sites it is often a layer of cement concrete with a waterproofing compound, sometimes finished with bitumen. It must be continuous; a gap at a door opening or a corner lets damp through.

5. Plinth protection

Plinth protection is a sloping band of concrete or paving around the outside of the building at ground level. It carries rainwater away from the base of the walls so it does not soak into the foundation soil.

Superstructure: the parts above the plinth

6. Columns and beams

Most new Indian houses are RCC framed structures. The slab rests on beams, the beams rest on columns, and the columns carry the load to the footings. Walls in such a house are infill: they divide space but do not carry the roof. In a load-bearing house there are no columns; the walls themselves carry the roof down to the foundation. The difference matters when you plan to remove or cut a wall. Read more on RCC and reinforcement.

7. Walls (दीवार)

External walls keep out weather, noise and heat; internal walls divide rooms. Brick, fly ash brick, AAC block and concrete block are common materials. Wall thickness depends on the material and on whether the wall is load-bearing. To estimate bricks for a wall, use the brick quantity calculator.

8. Sill

The sill is the horizontal ledge at the bottom of a window opening. It is usually a stone, granite or concrete slab with a slight outward slope so rainwater runs away from the wall. Sill height (the height of the window bottom above the floor) is a design choice: lower in living rooms for a view, higher in bathrooms for privacy.

9. Lintel (सरदल)

A lintel is a short beam over a door or window opening. It carries the wall above the opening so the frame does not get crushed. It extends into the wall on each side for bearing; a common rule of thumb is at least 150 mm. In many houses a continuous lintel band runs around the building at the same level, which also ties the walls together.

Lintel or “lintar”? On many North Indian sites, “lintar daalna” (लिंटर डालना) means casting the roof slab, not a lintel. If a contractor says the lintar is done, ask whether they mean the lintels or the roof slab.

10. Chajja or sunshade (छज्जा)

A chajja is a thin horizontal projection, usually cast with the lintel, that sticks out over a window. It shades the glass from high sun and keeps rain off the window. Deeper chajjas suit south and west faces in hot climates. A drip groove on its underside stops water running back to the wall.

11. Roof slab (छत)

The roof slab covers the top storey and carries its own weight, people, water tanks and finishes. Most Indian houses use a flat RCC slab. It may span one way or two ways depending on its proportions; see one-way slab reinforcement. A flat roof needs a slope (weathering course) and waterproofing so water drains to the rainwater pipes instead of standing on the slab.

12. Parapet and coping (मुंडेर)

A parapet is a low wall along the edge of the roof, balcony or terrace. It prevents falls, hides water tanks and services, and finishes the elevation. Its height is set by the local building rules for guarding on accessible roofs. The top of the parapet carries a coping, a sloped or projecting layer that throws rainwater clear of the wall face. See parapet wall designs and types.

13. Mumty (stair room on the roof)

A mumty is the small covered room on the terrace that houses the top of the staircase and its door. It keeps rain out of the stairwell and often supports the overhead water tank.

14. Stairs (सीढ़ी)

A staircase is made of treads (the part you step on), risers (the vertical part of each step), landings (flat resting areas) and a handrail or railing. Comfortable, safe stairs keep every riser the same height and every tread the same depth. For railing ideas, see staircase railing designs.

Openings, floors and finishes

15. Doors, frames and thresholds

A door has a fixed frame (chaukhat) built into the wall and a shutter hinged to it. The threshold (dehli) is the raised strip at the bottom of the frame, common at main doors and bathrooms where it also helps stop water spreading. Browse main door designs for styles.

16. Windows and ventilators

Windows bring in light and air; ventilators (roshandan) are small high openings, often over doors or in bathrooms and kitchens, for continuous airflow. Grills, shutters and the chajja above all affect how a window works in heat and rain.

17. Floors and skirting

A floor is built in layers: compacted base or slab, a bedding layer, and the finish (tiles, stone or concrete). Skirting is a short strip of tile or stone along the bottom of walls that protects them from mopping and knocks.

18. Plaster and finishes

Plaster covers the masonry to give a smooth, protected surface for paint. External plaster also helps keep rain out of the wall. See types of plaster finishes and gypsum vs neeru plaster.

How load travels through a building

The parts above work as one chain, called the load path. In an RCC framed house:

1. The roof slab carries its own weight and everything on it.
2. The slab passes that load to the beams.
3. The beams pass it to the columns.
4. The columns pass it to the footings.
5. The footings spread it into the soil.

In a load-bearing house, the slab rests directly on the walls and the walls carry the load to the foundation. Cutting a new opening in a load-bearing wall, or removing a column in a framed house, breaks this chain, so it must be checked by a structural engineer first.

FAQ

What are the main parts of a building?

The substructure (foundation, footing, plinth, plinth beam and DPC) and the superstructure (columns, beams, walls, sills, lintels, chajja, roof slab, parapet, stairs, doors, windows and floors).

What is the difference between the plinth and the foundation?

The foundation is below ground and spreads the load into the soil. The plinth is the raised part between the ground level and the ground floor. The foundation carries the building; the plinth lifts the floor clear of ground water and splash.

What is a lintel called in Hindi?

सरदल (sardal). On many sites people also say “lintel” in English. Note that “lintar” in everyday speech often means the roof slab.

What is the purpose of a DPC?

To stop moisture from the ground rising into the walls. Without it, the lower part of the walls stays damp, paint peels and salts appear on the surface.

What is the difference between a chajja and a balcony?

A chajja is a narrow projection over a window for shade and rain protection; it is not meant to be walked on. A balcony is a projecting floor designed for people, with a railing or parapet.

What is a parapet in Hindi?

मुंडेर (munder): the low wall around the edge of a roof or terrace.

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Disclaimer: Educational only. Sizes, heights and details vary with local building rules, soil and structural design. Confirm every structural element with a qualified architect or structural engineer for your site. Disclaimer

Tanmay Arora

Tanmay Arora, is an Architect with an experience of 13+ years. He is a Management Grad with a post Graduate Diploma in Building Construction and Materials. Tanmay has worked with renowned firms. He has graduated in Bachelor of Architecture. His deep interest in Architecture and Civil Engineering and his experience has made him one of the best architects a client can think of.