Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bordello | /borˈdɛl.lo/ | masculine |
| casino | /kaˈzi.no/ /kaˈsi.no/ |
masculine |
| casa d'appuntamenti | feminine | |
| postribolo | /posˈtri.bo.lo/ | masculine |
| lupanare | /lu.paˈna.re/ | masculine |
| casa chiusa | /ˈka.sa ˈkju.za/ (word by word) | feminine |
| casa di tolleranza | /ˈka.sa di tol.leˈran.t͡sa/ (word by word) | feminine |
Italian has multiple ways to describe a house of prostitution depending on the context. While bordello is the most direct and common term, it is also used colloquially to describe a situation of great disorder, mess or chaos. The term lupanare is used specifically in a historical or archaeological context, most commonly associated with ancient Roman establishments.
Which one should you use?
The term bordello is a direct and common way to refer to a brothel. For a more indirect approach, you can use the euphemism casa chiusa, which literally means 'closed house'. If you need to be formal or are using bureaucratic language, casa di tolleranza (house of tolerance) is the appropriate choice. English speakers often mistake casino for a brothel, but in Italian, casino primarily means a gambling house or, colloquially, a mess/chaos.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bordello is the most common and direct way to say brothel, but it is considered vulgar or slangy in many contexts. For a more polite or euphemistic way to speak, use casa chiusa. If you require a formal, archaic or bureaucratic term, use casa di tolleranza.
How do you pronounce it?
The word bordello is pronounced /borˈdɛl.lo/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use casino to mean a brothel. In Italian, casino primarily means a gambling house or, colloquially, a mess or chaos.
When do people say it?
The term lupanare specifically refers to a brothel in a historical or archaeological context, most commonly associated with ancient Roman establishments.
Did you know?
- The word lupanare comes from the Latin word for 'she-wolf'. In ancient Rome, this implied that the women working there were as predatory or wild as wolves.
- The common term bordello actually shares an ancient root with the English word 'board', originating from a word meaning a 'plank' or 'table'.
- The term casa chiusa refers to the legal system used in Italy until 1958, where these houses were literally 'closed' to the general public to avoid scandal.
Examples in context
- Sami visitò un bordello.Sami visited a brothel.This sentence uses bordello to describe a place visited by Sami.Tatoeba #6697936 by Guybrush88, translation #6692764 by OsoHombre
- Questo è un hotel, non un bordello.This is a hotel, not a brothel.This sentence uses bordello to contrast a hotel with a brothel.Tatoeba #4887674 by Guybrush88, translation #4887680 by venticello
- Ho intenzione di lavorare in un bordello.I plan to work in a brothel.This sentence uses bordello to describe a place of work.Tatoeba #2734685 by Guybrush88, translation #543553 by FeuDRenais
- La città ha lottato per anni per chiudere tutte le case di tolleranza.The city has been struggling for years to close down all the brothels.
- Mio zio sosteneva di aver visitato un bordello durante il suo viaggio in Italia.My uncle claimed to have visited a brothel during his trip to Italy.
- Ho sentito dire che ha lavorato in una casa chiusa alcuni anni fa.I have heard that she worked in a brothel a few years ago.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are discussing a historical building in the city.
- SofiaSapevi che questo palazzo era un bordello?Did you know that this building was a brothel?
- LorenzoDavvero? Non sembrava affatto un bordello.Really? It didn't look like a brothel at all.
- SofiaSì, lo era fino a molti anni fa.Yes, it was one until many years ago.
- LorenzoÈ incredibile come sia cambiato tutto.It's incredible how everything has changed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brothel” translations and entries bordello, casino, casa d'appuntamenti, postribolo, lupanare, casa chiusa, casa di tolleranza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (casa, chiusa, di, tolleranza) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bordello, casa, casino, postribolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
