If you're lazing around on a long, airy porch that runs along the outside of your house, you are on a veranda.
The word veranda likely derived from the Portuguese word varanda, meaning "long balcony or terrace." Extending along the outside of a building, this architectural structure has a roof and usually opens up to the outside. A veranda is a common feature on houses at a beach resort or in other warm climates. They provide shade but still allow you to sit outside and enjoying the scenery. You might have a party on you veranda in the summer.