House help: meaning, definitions and examples

Informal term used for anyone helping with household chores. It is commonly used in casual conversations within the family and can cover a wide range of duties.

• She hired a house help to assist with daily chores.
• Our house help has been with us for years.

Usually refers to someone hired to manage the cleaning and maintenance of a household. It often implies a broader range of responsibilities compared to a cleaner, including organization and sometimes cooking.

• They hired a housekeeper to manage their new home.
• The hotel housekeeper ensured that everything was in order.

Can have a slightly outdated or negative connotation in some contexts but is often used in the hospitality industry or in traditional setups. It generally refers to a female domestic worker specializing in cleaning.

• The maid comes in once a week to clean the house.
• She worked as a maid in the city for several years.

Used when referring specifically to someone whose primary job is cleaning. This can be used in both residential and commercial contexts.

• The cleaner did a great job with the carpets.
• We need to call a cleaner for the office.

Typically used in casual conversations to describe someone who assists with chores around the house.

• We hired some house help to clean the place every week

Typically used in a more commercial context, especially related to professional cleaning services offered to homes or hotels.

• We booked a housekeeping service to clean our home while we were on vacation

Often used in formal settings or official documents to describe help with everyday tasks at home.

• Elderly people may require domestic assistance to manage their daily activities

Commonly used in British English to refer to a person who assists with household tasks, often for elderly or disabled individuals.

• She receives home help twice a week to manage her cleaning and shopping