Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sirviente | /siɾˈbjente/ | feminine, masculine |
| sirvienta f criado | /siɾbjenta f kɾjado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| mozo | /ˈmoθo/ /ˈmoso/ |
masculine |
A servant is someone hired to perform regular household or other duties in exchange for compensation.
Which one should you use?
While sirviente is a general term, criado is used specifically to refer to a male servant in formal environments or historical contexts. In Peru, the word mozo can mean either a male servant or a waiter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In modern, formal or professional contexts, it is better to use the term empleado de hogar (domestic worker) to avoid the social connotations associated with sirviente.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Peru, the term mozo is used for a male servant or a waiter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word sirviente can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects. The specific feminine form is sirvienta, while criado is the masculine form used in certain formal or historical settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/siɾˈbjente/
Did you know?
- The word sirviente shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sergeant', both stemming from the Latin 'servientem'.
- The word mozo is used in Catalan as mosso, which is actually a term used for certain types of police officers.
- Historically, the term criado often implied that the servant lived with the family and was raised within the household, reflecting a paternalistic social structure.
Examples in context
- El sirviente barrió el suelo.The servant swept the floor.This sentence shows how to describe a servant performing a chore using sirviente.Tatoeba #5612019 by albrusgher, translation #267405 by CK
- Quiero contratar a un sirviente.I want to hire a servant.This sentence demonstrates the use of sirviente when expressing the intent to hire someone.Tatoeba #3039804 by marcelostockle, translation #3022554 by sharptoothed
- El sirviente negó haber robado el dinero.The servant denied having stolen the money.This sentence shows how to use sirviente when reporting a denial regarding a theft.Tatoeba #12364121 by ecorralest101, translation #12367241 by Miktsoanit
- El criado se aseguró de que todos los invitados se sintieran cómodos.The servant made sure that all the guests felt comfortable.
- El sirviente trajo el té a la señora de la casa.The servant brought tea to the lady of the house.
- Me encontré con Juancho, el criado de mi abuelo, en el mercado.I ran into Juancho, my grandfather's servant, at the market.
- La doméstica siempre mantiene la casa impecable.The domestic help always keeps the house spotless.
- Nuestro mozo nos atendió de manera excelente durante toda la cena.Our waiter served us excellently throughout the dinner.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing the staff at a historic mansion.
- SofíaEsa casa tiene un sirviente muy eficiente.That house has a very efficient servant.
- MateoSí, Mateo cree que es muy trabajador.Yes, Mateo thinks he is very hardworking.
- Sofía¿Sabe el sirviente dónde está la llave?Does the servant know where the key is?
- MateoSeguro que él lo sabe.I am sure he knows.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “servant” translations and entries sirviente, mozo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries criado, mozo, sirviente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
