penthouse

/ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/

//ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"penthouse" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“penthouse” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #19,414 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#19,414
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A structure or annexe (especially one with a sloping roof) extending from the side of a building, sometimes as protection from the weather.

Key facts for penthouse
PropertyValue
Headwordpenthouse
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/
Letters9
Frequency rank#19,414
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “penthouse” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). penthouse lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for penthouse is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/. Corpus data places it at rank #19,414 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for penthouse, with forms such as "epnthouse", "penhtouse", and "pennthouse". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Anglo-Norman pentiz (“pentice”), from apendiz (“appentice”), ultimately from a suffixed form of Latin appendō (“I append”). Altered by folk etymology to appear to be a compound of house. Doublet of appentice and pentice. The correct English form is penthouse, spelled P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E.

Definition

  1. 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. 2
    Something forming a shelter or canopy over something; an awning, shelter, etc.
  3. 3
    Any of the sloping roofs at the side of a real tennis court.
  4. 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.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman pentiz (“pentice”), from apendiz (“appentice”), ultimately from a suffixed form of Latin appendō (“I append”). Altered by folk etymology to appear to be a compound of house. Doublet of appentice and pentice.

This word in other languages

apéndice(Español)appentis(Français)Dachwohnung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: epnthouse,penhtouse,pennthouse,penthhouse,penthosue,penthoues,penthousse,penthuose,pentohuse,pentthouse,petnhouse,pnethouse,ppenthouse

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of penthouse - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

epnthouse2penhtouse2pennthouse1penthhouse1penthosue2penthoues2penthousse1penthuose2
Edit distance from "penthouse"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "penthouse"?
"penthouse" is spelled P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/.
What does "penthouse" mean?
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.
What are common misspellings of "penthouse"?
Common misspellings include "epnthouse", "penhtouse", "pennthouse", "penthhouse", "penthosue". The correct spelling is "penthouse".
How do you pronounce "penthouse"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "penthouse" is /ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "penthouse"?
From Anglo-Norman pentiz (“pentice”), from apendiz (“appentice”), ultimately from a suffixed form of Latin appendō (“I append”). Altered by folk etymology to appear to be a compound of house. Doublet of appentice and pentice. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “penthouse”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɛnt(h)aʊs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list