What does parlour mean?
A parlour is a room intended for sitting, relaxing, talking, or receiving visitors. It appears especially in British and Canadian English, where it can suggest a comfortable, private, or traditionally furnished sitting room, although the word is also used for parlours in hotels and other public buildings. Historically, the term referred to a room used for formal conversation, business, or receiving guests, giving it an association with polite social exchange. In contemporary use, it may be chosen for its traditional or welcoming atmosphere: a hotel parlour can provide an intimate meeting place, while a house parlour may be a quiet alternative to a busier living room. American English generally uses the spelling parlor for the same meaning. The word is also familiar in the traditional expression parlour game, meaning a game played indoors for entertainment.
nounA room in a house, hotel, or other building used for sitting, conversation, or receiving guests. Historically, it could refer to a formal reception room or a room where business was discussed.
- A room in a house or other building used for sitting, relaxing, and talking.
- Historically, a room set aside for receiving guests, conducting business, or holding formal conversations.
"The family gathered in the parlour for tea and conversation."
"She waited in the parlour until the rain stopped."
"The meeting was held in the hotel's private parlour."
In American English, the corresponding plural is parlors.
"The parlours had been newly furnished."
The word once suggested a formal room for conversation and receiving visitors, so even an ordinary sitting room carries a faint air of genteel social ritual.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of parlour
Parlour comes from the Anglo-Norman French parler, meaning “to speak” or “talk,” which was borrowed from Latin parlare, “to speak.” The noun originally referred to a room for conversation or the receipt of visitors. It is related to words such as parley, parlance, and parliament, which also reflect the idea of speaking or discussion.
Related word forms
How parlour is actually used
In modern British and Canadian English, parlour often has a slightly traditional or nostalgic tone and may suggest a formal or comfortable sitting room. In American English, the usual spelling is parlor.
Easily confused with parlour
Parlour and parlor are spelling variants of the same word; parlour is standard in British and Canadian English, while parlor is standard in American English.