A bungalow at 44 Neil Street A bungalow is a type of house that is generally a detached, low-rise, single, or one-and-a-half storeys, with one or more verandahs. The term originated in India, deriving from the Gujarati "baṅgalo", which in turn derives from the Hindustani baṅglā, meaning a "house in the Bengal style". Such houses were traditionally small, only one story and thatched, with a wide veranda.