Inklingo

How to Say "housekeeper" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “housekeeper” is “empleada” — use this term for a woman who is employed to work in a private home, usually for cleaning and general domestic tasks..

empleada🔊A2

Use this term for a woman who is employed to work in a private home, usually for cleaning and general domestic tasks.

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sirvienta🔊A2

This word refers to a female domestic worker who manages household tasks, often implying a more traditional or historical role.

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muchacha🔊B1

Use this term for a person, typically a woman, responsible for cleaning and managing a household, especially one who also cooks.

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camarera🔊B1

This term is specifically used for a female employee in a hotel responsible for cleaning rooms and providing services to guests.

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ama🔊B1

While 'ama' alone can sometimes refer to a housekeeper, it's most commonly part of 'ama de llaves' and refers to the head of domestic staff or a housewife managing the home.

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criada🔊B1

This word often carries a historical or traditional connotation, referring to a female domestic servant who worked in a household.

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English → Spanish

empleada

/em-ple-AH-dah//empeˈlaða/

nounA2general
Use this term for a woman who is employed to work in a private home, usually for cleaning and general domestic tasks.
A woman in a clean apron holding a feather duster and a basket of laundry in a cozy living room.

Examples

La empleada viene los lunes para limpiar.

The housekeeper comes on Mondays to clean.

Shortened forms

In many Spanish-speaking homes, people simply say 'la empleada' to refer to the person who helps with cleaning and housework.

sirvienta

/seer-BYEN-tah//siɾˈβjenta/

nounA2general
This word refers to a female domestic worker who manages household tasks, often implying a more traditional or historical role.
A woman in a classic maid uniform holding a feather duster and a cleaning bucket.

Examples

La sirvienta preparó el desayuno temprano.

The maid prepared breakfast early.

En esa película antigua, la sirvienta lleva un uniforme blanco.

In that old movie, the maid wears a white uniform.

Mi abuela tenía una sirvienta que vivía en la casa.

My grandmother had a maid who lived in the house.

Gender and Endings

This word ends in -a because it refers specifically to a woman. If you were talking about a man, you would use 'sirviente'.

Using 'sirvienta' in modern settings

Mistake: “Calling a modern domestic worker 'sirvienta' in a formal city setting.”

Correction: Use 'empleada del hogar' or 'asistente' instead. In many places, 'sirvienta' can sound a bit old-fashioned or even slightly disrespectful today.

muchacha

/moo-CHAH-chah//muˈtʃa.tʃa/

nounB1general
Use this term for a person, typically a woman, responsible for cleaning and managing a household, especially one who also cooks.
A person wearing a simple uniform and an apron, holding a feather duster and smiling next to a cleaned table.

Examples

Necesitamos una muchacha que sepa cocinar y limpiar.

We need a maid who knows how to cook and clean.

La muchacha se encarga de la ropa sucia.

The housekeeper takes care of the laundry.

camarera

kah-mah-REH-rah/kamaˈɾeɾa/

nounB1hotel
This term is specifically used for a female employee in a hotel responsible for cleaning rooms and providing services to guests.
A woman wearing a cleaning uniform is smoothing out a fresh white duvet while making a bed in a hotel room.

Examples

La camarera del hotel dejó toallas limpias en la habitación.

The chambermaid left clean towels in the room.

Por favor, avise a la camarera que ya puede limpiar mi cuarto.

Please inform the housekeeper that she can clean my room now.

ama

AH-mah/ˈa.ma/

nounB1general
While 'ama' alone can sometimes refer to a housekeeper, it's most commonly part of 'ama de llaves' and refers to the head of domestic staff or a housewife managing the home.
A high quality storybook illustration of a woman standing confidently in the center of a simple, tidy living room, holding a large, ornate key in her hand.

Examples

Mi madre es ama de casa y cuida de nosotros.

My mother is a housewife and takes care of us.

La joven trabajó como ama de llaves en la mansión.

The young woman worked as a housekeeper in the mansion.

Compound Nouns

'Ama' is most frequently seen today as the first part of a fixed phrase describing a specific job related to running a household or overseeing keys/children.

criada

kree-AH-dah/kɾiˈaða/

nounB1historical
This word often carries a historical or traditional connotation, referring to a female domestic servant who worked in a household.
A simple illustration of a woman dressed as a maid, holding a broom while sweeping a clean, stylized floor.

Examples

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

The maid prepared breakfast before the sun came out.

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

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

Choosing between general domestic staff terms

Learners often confuse terms like 'empleada,' 'sirvienta,' and 'muchacha' for general domestic help. 'Empleada' is the most neutral and common for modern contexts, while 'sirvienta' and 'criada' can sound outdated or imply a more subservient role.

Related Translations

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