# eunuch

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈjuː.nək/ · frequency rank #36,134

## Definitions
1. A castrated man.
2. Such a man employed as harem guard or in certain (mainly Eastern) monarchies (e.g. late Roman and Chinese Empires) as court or state officials.
3. A man who is not inclined to marry and procreate.
4. One that is ineffectual.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek εὐνή (eunḗ)
Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ-der.
Proto-Hellenic *hékʰō
Ancient Greek ἔχω (ékhō)
Ancient Greek εὐνοῦχος (eunoûkhos)bor.
Latin eunūchusder.
Middle English eunuk
English eunuch
From Middle English eunuk, from Middle French eunuque, from Latin eunūchus, from Ancient Greek εὐνοῦχος (eunoûkhos), from εὐνή (eunḗ, “bed”) + ἔχω (ékhō, “I have, keep”). Originally probably used to refer to a bed chamber attendant.

## Easily confused with
- **Enoch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enoch-vs-eunuch)
- **Eunice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eunice-vs-eunuch)

## Common misspellings (8)
`enuuch`, `euncuh`, `eunnuch`, `eunucch`, `eunuchh`, `eunuhc`, `euunch`, `uenuch`

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