A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure. It is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front and sides of the structure.

The word verandah may have been an adaptation of the Portuguese or older Spanish varanda (baranda or barandilla in modern Spanish), referring to a railing, balustrade or balcony. The distinctive style of Indian architecture evolved from a hybrid of east and west. The veranda is one of the many new hybrid architectural elements.

The word "verandah" is a malformation of the original Sanskrit word that somewhat survives in Bengali^{[citation needed]}. The word is a culmination of two words: "Vahir"( "বাহির" /Outside) and "Awndar" ("অন্দর" /inside a room)^{[citation needed]}. It means something that is considered outside but situated inside a room (or covered area).

Although the form "verandah" is correct and very common, some authorities prefer the version without an h (the Oxford English Dictionary gives the h version as a variant, and the Guardian Style Guide says "veranda not verandah").