ملازمہ
mulazma
The English word "maid" translates to Urdu as ملازمہ (mulazma).
ملازمہ is a broad term used for any female employee. While it can be used to describe a female servant or cleaner, it is not limited to domestic housework.
Meaning: female servant or cleaner (noun)
Which one should you use?
ملازمہ is a standard term for a female employee or servant. In contrast, خادمہ is a more formal or literary word often used to mean a handmaiden or a lady's maid. Additionally, naukarani is a gender-specific term that typically refers specifically to a female domestic worker.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is the feminine form of the masculine noun ملازم, which means a male servant.
How do you pronounce it?
mulazma
Did you know?
- In literary Urdu, خادمہ is often used in the phrase خادمہِ علم, which refers to a woman who is a 'servant of knowledge' or a devoted scholar.
- In many urban South Asian households, even when speaking Urdu, people often switch to the English word 'maid' or 'helper' to make the conversation feel less formal or hierarchical.
- The word ملازمہ shares the same root as the word for 'employment', meaning that the person and the job itself are linguistically tied to the concept of being 'employed'.
Example conversation
Sarah and Ali are talking about housework.
- سارہ Saraکیا ملازمہ آج آئے گی؟Kya mulazima aaj aaye gi?Will the maid come today?
- علی Aliہاں، وہ دوپہر کو آئے گی۔Haan, woh dopahar ko aaye gi.Yes, she will come in the afternoon.
- سارہ Saraٹھیک ہے، میں اسے کام بتا دوں گی۔Theek hai, mein usay kaam bata doon gi.Okay, I will tell her the work.
- علی Aliٹھیک ہے، سارہ۔Theek hai, Sarah.Okay, Sarah.
