ayah

[ ah-yuh ]

noun

1. an Indian maid or nurse, especially one employed in a colonial household.

ayah

/ ˈaɪə /

noun

1. (in the East, Africa, and other parts of the former British Empire) a maidservant, nursemaid, or governess, esp one of Indian or Malay origin Compare amah

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayah¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Hindi āyā, from Portuguese aia “maidservant,” from Latin avia “grandmother,” equivalent to av(us) “grandfather” + -ia feminine suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayah¹

C18: from Hindi āyā, from Portuguese aia, from Latin avia grandmother

Example Sentences

The most complicated part was coding the text-messaging system, Ayah recalls.

From Science News For Students

Ayah Abu Basheer is a lecturer at the Islamic University in Gaza City.

From The Daily Beast

The day before the steamer reached Southampton, Mamma asked her if she would not like to see the ayah again.

From Project Gutenberg

That is her Ayah, who comes up from behind at a pace so different from her youthful mistress's.

From Project Gutenberg

All, that is, save Nina's ayah, who opportunely produced a bottle of smelling-salts and passed it to the mem-sahib.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the next morning, and Nina's ayah sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.

From Project Gutenberg

When Colonel Darling returned from parade the ayah was gone from the passage-way outside his wife's room.

From Project Gutenberg