'auditorium' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'auditorium', where 'audīre' meant 'to hear' and 'auditor' meant 'listener'.

'auditorium' passed from Classical Latin into Medieval/Modern Latin and was adopted into English (early modern period) as 'auditorium'; the plural in Latin is 'auditoria', which English also uses.

Initially it literally meant 'a place for hearing', and over time it evolved to mean 'a large hall or venue for public gatherings, lectures, concerts, or performances'.