Betel vs. Bethel — What's the Difference?

The betel (Piper betle) is a vine of the family Piperaceae, which includes pepper and kava. Betel leaf is mostly consumed in Asia, and elsewhere in the world by some Asian emigrants, as betel quid or in paan, with areca nut and/or tobacco.

Bethel (Ugaritic: bt il, meaning "House of El" or "House of God", Hebrew: בֵּית אֵל‎ Bēṯ ’Ēl, also transliterated Beth El, Beth-El, Beit El; Greek: Βαιθήλ; Latin: Bethel) is the name of a place (a toponym) often used in the Hebrew Bible. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12:8 as being near where Abram pitched his tent.

An evergreen vine (Piper betle) of South and Southeast Asia, having heart-shaped or ovate leaves that are used to wrap betel nuts.

A hallowed or holy place.

Either of two plants often used in combination:

A chapel for seafarers.

An evergreen Indian creeping shrub, Piper betle, whose dried leaves are chewed with betel nut: the betel pepper

Chiefly British A Nonconformist chapel, especially a Baptist or Methodist one.

The seed of the betel palm, Areca catechu: the betel nut

A holy place.

A quid (chewing preparation) containing these and other plant materials; paan.

A chapel, especially one for sailors, converted from an old ship.

A species of pepper (Piper betle), the leaves of which are chewed, with the areca or betel nut and a little shell lime, by the inhabitants of the East Indies. It is a woody climber with ovate many-nerved leaves.

A place of worship; a hallowed spot.

Asian pepper plant whose dried leaves are chewed with betel nut (seed of the betel palm) by southeast Asians

A chapel for dissenters.

A house of worship for seamen.

A house of worship (especially one for sailors)