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criada

/kree-AH-dah/

maid

A simple illustration of a woman dressed as a maid, holding a broom while sweeping a clean, stylized floor.

Criada, meaning 'maid', often refers to a domestic worker.

criada(noun)

fB1

maid

?

domestic worker

,

servant

?

domestic employee

Also:

housekeeper

?

often historical/traditional

📝 In Action

La criada preparó el desayuno antes de que saliera el sol.

B1

The maid prepared breakfast before the sun came out.

En la película, la criada era la única que sabía el secreto.

B2

In the movie, the servant was the only one who knew the secret.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sirvienta (female servant)
  • empleada doméstica (domestic worker)

⭐ Usage Tips

Modern Politeness

In modern Spanish, empleada doméstica or simply empleada is generally preferred and considered more respectful when referring to a house worker than the older term criada.

An illustration showing a tall adult holding the hand of a small child, symbolizing the child being raised or brought up.

When used as an adjective, criada means 'raised' or 'brought up,' referring to how a person was nurtured.

criada(adjective)

fA2

raised

?

brought up (a person)

,

bred

?

of animals or plants

Also:

nurtured

?

cared for

📝 In Action

Ella fue criada por su tía en un pueblo pequeño.

A2

She was raised by her aunt in a small town.

La ternera es criada para la producción de carne.

B1

The calf is bred for meat production.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • educada (educated/well-mannered)
  • cultivada (cultivated)

Common Collocations

  • bien criada – well-raised/well-mannered
  • mal criada – badly-behaved/spoiled

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Description

When criada is used as a descriptive word (an adjective), it must always match the gender (feminine) and number (singular) of the noun it describes. It means 'having been raised' or 'having been created.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Verb Form

Mistake: "Saying 'La niña ha criada' (The girl has raised)"

Correction: The correct past participle form used with 'haber' (to have) is *criado*, regardless of gender, when forming compound tenses: 'La niña ha criado a su perro.' (The girl has raised her dog). Use *criada* only as a descriptive word or in the passive voice: 'Ella es criada bien.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with 'Ser'

Pair criada with the verb ser (to be) to talk about where someone was brought up: 'Soy criada en Madrid' (I was raised in Madrid).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: criada

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'criada' in its meaning as a description (adjective)?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'criada' an offensive word?

While not always offensive, the noun *criada* (maid/servant) is considered old-fashioned and carries historical baggage related to class structures. It is much safer and more respectful to use *empleada doméstica* (domestic worker) instead.

How do I know if 'criada' means 'maid' or 'raised'?

Look at the context. If it's used as a standalone subject (like 'La criada llegó'), it's the noun 'maid.' If it follows a form of the verb *ser* or *estar* and describes a person's upbringing (like 'Ella es criada en la ciudad'), it means 'raised' or 'brought up.'