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

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

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 • Aug. 21, 2025

Jason and Molly Corbett met in 2008 when Molly Corbett worked as an au pair, caring for two children from Jason Corbett’s first marriage.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2024

Because of his love of words, in a strange way, it was the language difference—English English versus American English—that started Branwell’s fascination with the au pair.

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

Related Words

• caregiver
• governess
• housekeeper