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View synonyms for au pair

au pair

[ oh pair ]

noun

  1. a person, usually a young foreign visitor, employed to take care of children, do housework, etc., in exchange for room and board:

    We sent the children to the beach with the au pair.



adjective

  1. of, relating to, or employed under such an arrangement:

    an au pair girl.

au pair

/ əʊ ˈpɛə; o pɛr /

noun

    1. a young foreigner, usually a girl, who undertakes housework in exchange for board and lodging, esp in order to learn the language
    2. ( as modifier )

      an au pair girl

  1. a young person who lives temporarily with a family abroad in exchange for a reciprocal arrangement with his or her own family
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr to work as an au pair
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. as an au pair

    she worked au pair in Greece

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of au pair1

First recorded in 1965–70; from French: literally, “equal, even,” referring to the equal exchange of work for room and board; au contraction of à le “at the” + pair “equal” (noun); à la, pair 1( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of au pair1

C20: from French: on an equal footing
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Example Sentences

Sure, she was more expensive than an au pair, but, we congratulated ourselves, she spoke English and she knew what she was doing.

Au pair—Robin, having maisonette larger than he requires (flower-pot), would like to find another to share it.

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