penthouse
/ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/noun, verb
penthouse is spelled P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 2.0 times per million words in written English, the 19,336th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, penthouse means “A structure or annexe (especially one with a sloping roof) extending from the side of a building, sometimes as protection from the weather” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of penthouse is penthouses.
How many letters and syllables are in penthouse?
| Letters | 9: P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.0 times per million words; the 19,336th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is penthouse?
Penthouse appears 2.0 times per million words in written English, the 19,336th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce penthouse?
- /ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/
Penthouse has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-penthouse.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with penthouse
Also written: pent-house (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of penthouse
- penthouses plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- penthousing participle, present
- penthoused participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does penthouse mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A structure or annexe (especially one with a sloping roof) extending from the side of a building, sometimes as protection from the weather.
- 2
archaicSomething forming a shelter or canopy over something; an awning, shelter, etc.
- 3
Any of the sloping roofs at the side of a real tennis court.
- 4
An apartment or suite found on an upper floor, or floors, of a tall building, especially one that is expensive or luxurious with panoramic views.
verb
- 1
To provide with a penthouse, shelter by means of a shed sloping from a wall, or anything similar.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate penthouse?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of penthouse: PH.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Penthouse in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | appentis , attique, penthouse |
| German | Dachwohnung , Penthouse , Schrägdach |
| Spanish | apéndice, ático |
| Portuguese | cobertura |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does penthouse come from?
From Anglo-Norman pentiz (“pentice”), from apendiz (“appentice”), ultimately from a suffixed form of Latin appendō (“to append”). Altered by folk etymology to appear to be a compound of house. Doublet of appentice and pentice.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).