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. 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

verb

1. (intr) to work as an au pair

adverb

1. as an au pair

   she worked au pair in Greece

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. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of au pair¹

C20: from French: on an equal footing

Example Sentences

After growing up in Tidworth, Wiltshire, she travelled to India at the age of 18 where she worked as an au pair to a military family until she was 21.

From BBC

As a teenager she worked as an au pair in India, and later lived in Hong Kong and Gibraltar with her husband Norman, a lieutenant colonel in the army.

From BBC

At the age of 18, she was employed as an au pair to a military family in India.

From BBC

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

In 2002, Booth was convicted following a trial at Bradford Crown Court of indecently assaulting his Brazilian au pair and was sentenced to two years in jail.

From BBC

Related Words

• caregiver 
• governess 
• housekeeper