Diele

Diele is a German noun meaning the hall or entrance area of a building. In residential architecture, the Diele is the space encountered immediately after entering and serves as a central connecting zone that leads to other rooms such as the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Depending on the design, the Diele can be a spacious, open area used for reception and circulation, or a more compact passage within an apartment.

In everyday German usage, Diele and Flur are related terms; Flur typically refers to a longer, narrower corridor, whereas Diele conveys a more public or frequently used space near the entrance. Regional variation exists, and in some floor plans the terms may be used interchangeably. If the space is mainly a transit passage with little furniture, designers may label it Flur instead of Diele.

Historically in older houses, the Diele sometimes functioned as a social space and might include features such as a cloak closet (Garderobe) or seating. In modern homes, the Diele is often equipped with storage for coats and shoes and acts as a transition area to other living spaces.

The word Diele can also appear as a place name in German-speaking areas, and outside of architecture it may appear in dialectal or related language uses. However, in standard German, the Diele's primary sense is the entrance hall or foyer.