ama
/ˈama/
ama is the Spanish word for a woman who works as a domestic servant in a private home.
The term refers to a female domestic worker or housekeeper employed within a private household.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈama/.
Did you know?
- The word ama shares a root with the word 'mammal', coming from the Latin amma meaning 'wetnurse'.
- The word ama is also a form of the verb amar, meaning 'to love', though they are unrelated in origin.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, ama is used in the phrase ama de casa to describe a housewife who manages her own home rather than being an employee.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing household help.
- Mateo¿Ya llegó la ama hoy?Did the domestic servant arrive today?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, llegó hace una hora.Yes, Mateo, she arrived an hour ago.
- MateoEntonces ella puede ayudarnos con la cocina.Then she can help us with the kitchen.
- SofíaVoy a decírselo a la ama ahora.I am going to tell the domestic servant now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ama, CC BY-SA 4.0.
