Confuse Between Pagoda and Pergola – Find Out the Difference between the Two

Quite often we heard the term pergola or pagoda.  These terms make us confuse for both the meaning and pronunciation of these terms. Let’s try to find out the basic difference between them. Once the features are explained, it will become much easier to recognize them.

When I planned to design my garden, it was difficult for me to describe what exactly I want as I can’t find the right word for same its pagoda or pergola. I just explain to my designer "You know. One of those things at the entrance that grow plants up."

My designer replied back “Are you building one of those pagoda things, or is it a gazebo. You can understand it was uneasy for me as I don’t know the exact name of what I want; this made me make a research about them and write this article. I am sure this will help other users as well who are in similar situation.

Let's start with the pergola. We pronounce it as per - go – la and the main emphasis is on the 'p'.

A pergola is an outside structure has supporting, vertical posts with beams and rafters across the top.  This roofing grid is flat, running at regular intervals across the structure, and supported by side pillars or post.  Pergolas may be freestanding or attached to a house and they can be made of wood, iron or long lasting plastic material.  At times, there are exceptions to this rule: for example; a corner pergola, where the rafters radiate out from a central point. People use pergola covers as an outside sitting place in the garden area.

Now, let's look at the pagoda, we pronounce it as pa - go – da and emphasis on the 'g' -

A pagoda is a tiered tower with multiple eaves is quite different like an upside down curved V. they are   building for the religious purpose , and wouldn't normally be found in the garden area. Pagodas were originally built as religious shrines or memorials in the South East Asia.

The design of pagoda influences other structures that we see in our gardens today, for example in the turreted roofs of gazebos, and in turreted pergola rafters. The reason for this is to introduce an 'essence' of the Far East into our garden design, making it a shelter of relaxation and calm.

These two types of construction sound alike and closely related but they are very different from each other and do have their own classifiable features. I think after reading this article all readers can easily recognize the pergola, and know what they are looking for.