What Do You Call That Thing – Exploring the Difference Between Porches, Patios, Lanais and More

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a lanai, a porch, a covered patio and a veranda? As a contractor in Myrtle Beach, we often have to convey what services we offer to people from throughout the country (and even the world). In 2025, Myrtle Beach is the top relocation destination in the country. We thought it would be helpful to do an article explaining the different ways people refer to porches from around the country. To keep this article brief, we are not even going to get into the differences between sunrooms, conservatories and Carolina Rooms which are what happens AFTER you enclose your porch; but perhaps that will be a good future writeup!

The Northeast: “Stoop” Culture In northeastern North America, a “stoop” refers to a small landing at the top of steps, and when covered by a roof becomes a small porch WikipediaActiveRain. This Dutch-influenced term dominates New York City and surrounding areas, where brownstone stoops are iconic architectural features. Many people from the northeast also refer to a Covered Patio which seems to be a pretty easy to understand concept.

The South: Where “Gallery” Meets “Piazza” The South has the richest porch vocabulary. In New Orleans, locals call it a “gallery,” Is It a Porch, Veranda, Balcony, or Lanai? The Surprising Battle Over What We Call Our Outdoor Spaces – Balcony Boss while Charleston is famous for its “piazza” – which could easily hold the title for most regionally recognizable architectural flourish. Gulf Coast Acadian-style houses feature wide front porches, also known as galleries, that sometimes wrap the sides Piazza – History of Early American Landscape Design.

Hawaii’s Unique “Lanai” A lanai is a roofed, open-sided veranda, patio, or porch originating in Hawaii Porch – Wikipedia, and Hawaiian residents steadfastly refer to their outdoor spaces as “lanai” Is It a Porch, Veranda, Balcony, or Lanai? The Surprising Battle Over What We Call Our Outdoor Spaces – Balcony Boss. Specifically, in Myrtle Beach we often refer to the lanai as the porch with the screen on the roof as well – sometimes we will call this a “pool cage”.

The “Veranda” Versus “Porch” Debate “It’s not a veranda, it’s a porch,” insists the Southern homeowner Is It a Porch, Veranda, Balcony, or Lanai? The Surprising Battle Over What We Call Our Outdoor Spaces – Balcony Boss, highlighting the ongoing terminology battles. While “porch” is more common in American English, “veranda” often implies a more substantial, wrap-around structure.

Regional Quirks:

• Florida Room/Sun Porch: A sun porch, also referred to as a Florida room, can be any room usually enclosed with glass Porch – Wikipedia
• Piazza: Beyond Charleston, this term appears in neoclassical plantation houses and Gothic revival cottages in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

The terminology often reflects the area’s settlement history – Dutch “stoop,” French “gallery,” Italian “piazza,” and British “veranda” all tell stories of who built these communities.

For more on these differences, we would love to hear from you. What’s your region’s preferred term? The answer might reveal more about your local history than you’d expect.