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Thai

แม่บ้าน

Components

แม่
บ้าน

Pronunciation

mɛ̂ɛ bâan

แม่บ้าน

mɛ̂ɛ bâan

homemaker

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  1. 1 homemaker、housewife
  2. 2 housekeeper、domestic worker
  3. 3 cleaning staff member、housekeeping attendant

This word refers to a woman responsible for household or cleaning work, whether in her own home, a private household, or a workplace such as a hotel.

1

homemaker、housewife

Noun⭐️4 Often used

A woman whose main role is managing her own household and caring for the family.

2

housekeeper、domestic worker

Noun⭐️4 Often used

A woman employed to do domestic work such as cleaning, laundry, or cooking in a private home.

3

cleaning staff member、housekeeping attendant

Noun⭐️3 Common

A female staff member responsible for cleaning and maintaining rooms or facilities in places such as hotels, offices, and hospitals.

Learning notes

Explanation

แม่บ้าน is formed from แม่, “mother” or a woman in a central caretaking role, and บ้าน, “home.” Its core image is a woman who keeps a home, room, or facility clean and in order. In the context of her own family, it means “homemaker.” When she is employed in a private home, it means “housekeeper” or “domestic worker.” In a hotel, office, or hospital, it commonly refers to a housekeeping or cleaning staff member. The setting and employment context determine the intended meaning. Because it refers to a person, it is counted with คน, as in แม่บ้านสองคน, “two housekeepers.”

Usage

It is commonly used when discussing someone’s role at home, hiring help for domestic chores, or referring to housekeeping staff in a hotel, office, or hospital. A sentence such as เธอเป็นแม่บ้าน can mean either “She is a homemaker” or “She works in housekeeping,” depending on the surrounding context.

Caution

แม่บ้าน does not simply mean “wife”; use ภรรยา when the marital relationship is what matters. The word also traditionally implies a woman, so พนักงานทำความสะอาด, “cleaning staff member,” is clearer when a gender-neutral job title is preferred.

Differences from similar words

1 homemaker synonyms

2 housekeeper synonyms

  • คนทำงานบ้าน is a descriptive, less gender-specific term for someone who does domestic work. แม่บ้าน commonly refers to a woman and is widely used as a job label.

  • คนรับใช้ means “servant” and can strongly suggest a subordinate social position. แม่บ้าน focuses more neutrally on the person’s domestic duties.

3 cleaning staff member synonyms

  • พนักงานทำความสะอาด is an explicit, gender-neutral term for a cleaning employee. แม่บ้าน usually refers to a female worker and, in a hotel, may include duties beyond basic cleaning.

Component words

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