# brothel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɹɔθəl/ · frequency rank #20,576

## Definitions
1. A house of prostitution.

## Etymology
Short for brothel-house (“house of prostitution”), from brothel (“a wretch; scoundrel; lecher; harlot; prostitute”) + house, influenced by bordel. For more on brothel (“a wretch”), see below.

## Easily confused with
- **brother** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brothel-vs-brother)
- **brothers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brothel-vs-brothers)
- **brotherly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/brothel-vs-brotherly)
- **broth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/broth-vs-brothel)
- **bother** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bother-vs-brothel)
- **bethel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bethel-vs-brothel)

## Common misspellings (11)
`bbrothel`, `borthel`, `brohtel`, `brotehl`, `brothell`, `brothhel`, `brothle`, `brotthel`, `brrothel`, `brtohel`, `rbothel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brothel