au pair

American  

[oh pair] / oʊ ˈpɛər /

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.

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adjective

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

   an au pair girl.

au pair British  

/ əʊ ˈpɛə, o pɛr /

noun

1. 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

2. a young person who lives temporarily with a family abroad in exchange for a reciprocal arrangement with his or her own family

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verb

1. (intr) to work as an au pair

adverb

1. as an au pair

   she worked au pair in Greece

Etymology

Origin of au pair

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); cf. à la, pair ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Anna, who arrived in Germany as an au pair from Ukraine 15 years ago, now works in human resources at the joint venture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Here he is the 1919 go-between for Esther Nacht, a 14-year-old Jewish refugee whom he places with the Winslow family as an au pair.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025

The second level features “a second primary suite, au pair suite with kitchenette and private entry, and additional en suites,” according to the listing.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

When it comes to childcare, the couple do not have a nanny or au pair, but they do have a very supportive family.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

We had hardly seen each other over the summer, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Our au pair has arrived from England.”

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

• caregiver
• governess
• housekeeper