'Brooch' is a decorative pin worn on clothing; 'broach' is the verb meaning to raise or introduce a sensitive subject.
Noun. A decorative ornament fastened to clothing with a pin or clasp. Often a piece of jewellery. Rhymes with "coach" (/broʊtʃ/).
She wore a silver brooch in the shape of a bird on the lapel of her blazer.
The antique brooch had been passed down through four generations of the same family.
He gave her a brooch with an emerald at the centre as a graduation gift.
Verb. To raise or introduce a sensitive or difficult subject. Also: to pierce and open a cask or barrel. Noun (technical): a tapering tool for boring holes.
She finally broached the subject of a salary review after six months of waiting.
Broaching the idea of restructuring the team required careful timing and preparation.
He was unsure how to broach the topic of the missed deadline with his manager.
Common mistake
"She wore a broach" when meaning the jewellery (correct spelling: brooch). Or using 'brooch' as a verb (it has no verb form — the verb is always 'broach'). The double-O in 'brooch' is the key spelling: it rhymes with 'coach' and 'roach' but is spelled differently from most words with that sound.
Trick to remember it
'Brooch' has OO like 'jewel-OO-s' — the double O marks it as a distinctive spelling. 'Broach' rhymes with 'approach' — you approach and bring up a difficult topic.
Quick rule
Is it the decorative jewellery pin? 'Brooch' (double OO). Is it the verb to raise a sensitive topic? 'Broach'.
Did you know?
Brooches are among humanity's oldest jewellery — Celtic examples from over 2,500 years ago survive. Originally purely functional (holding cloaks closed), they evolved into status symbols. The Tara Brooch (Ireland, c. 700 AD) is considered a masterpiece of medieval European art. The word 'brooch' comes from Old French 'broche' (spike, needle) — the same root as 'broach' (to pierce or open). This is why both words share the same pronunciation: they are historically the same word, split into a noun spelling and a verb spelling in English. The metaphorical 'broach a subject' comes from broaching a cask — piercing something sealed to let its contents out.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She finally decided to _____ the subject of the merger at the board meeting.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She pinned a gold _____ shaped like a leaf to the collar of her jacket.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is it the decorative jewellery pin? 'Brooch' (double OO). Is it the verb to raise a sensitive topic? 'Broach'.
"She wore a broach" when meaning the jewellery (correct spelling: brooch). Or using 'brooch' as a verb (it has no verb form — the verb is always 'broach'). The double-O in 'brooch' is the key spelling: it rhymes with 'coach' and 'roach' but is spelled differently from most words with that sound.
'Brooch' has OO like 'jewel-OO-s' — the double O marks it as a distinctive spelling. 'Broach' rhymes with 'approach' — you approach and bring up a difficult topic.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy