خَادِمَة
ḵādimafeminine
The English phrase "maid" can be translated into Arabic as خَادِمَة (ḵādima). If unsure, use خَادِمَة. Wiktionary also lists خَدامَة (ḵadāma).
Meaning: female servant or cleaner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خَادِمَة | ḵādima | feminine |
| خَدامَة | ḵadāma | Gulf Arabic, feminine |
The term is used to refer to a female servant or cleaner. Note that جارية can be translated as "slave girl" and مربية can be translated as "nanny" in some contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form خَدامَة is commonly used in the Gulf region to refer to a maid.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ḵādima.
Did you know?
- The Arabic root خ-د-م (kh-d-m) is used to describe any kind of service, including the 'service' provided by a technician or a computer server in modern tech terminology.
- The word خَادِمَة shares a root with the word for 'serving' in a religious context, such as the 'servants of God'. This creates a linguistic link between domestic labor and spiritual devotion.
- In many Arab households, calling a maid by her name is common, but using the title خَادِمَة directly to her face can be perceived as quite impolite or even dehumanizing.
Examples in context
- أين يمكنني العثور على خادِمة لمساعدتي في المنزل؟Where can I find a maid to help me at home?
- هِيَ خَادِمَةٌ نَشِيطَةٌ جِدًّا.hiya khādimatun nashītatun jiddan.She is a very energetic maid.
- هَلْ تَبْحَثُ عَنْ خَادِمَةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ؟hal tabḥathu 'an khādimatin jadīdatin?Are you looking for a new maid?
- الْخَادِمَةُ تُنَظِّفُ الْغُرَفَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ.al-khādimatu tunadh-dhifu al-ghurafa kulla yawm.The maid cleans the rooms every day.
Example conversation
Layla and Yusuf are discussing housework at home.
- ليلى Laylaأَيْنَ الْخَادِمَةُ الْيَوْمَ؟ayna al-khādimatu al-yawm?Where is the maid today?
- يوسف Youssefهِيَ مَرِيضَةٌ وَلَنْ تَأْتِيَ.hiya marīḍatun wa lan ta'tiya.She is sick and will not come.
- ليلى Laylaيَجِبُ أَنْ نَجِدَ خَادِمَةً بَدِيلَةً.yajibu an najida khādimatan badīlatan.We must find a replacement maid.
- يوسف Youssefسَأَبْحَثُ عَنْ وَاحِدَةٍ غَدًا.sa-abḥathu 'an wāḥidatin ghadan.I will look for one tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maid” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
