ayah
[/ˈaɪ.ə/ or /ˈɑː.jə/]
nounfemininepl: ayahs
babá, ama de leite, criada
1. A nursemaid, nanny, or maid, particularly one employed in former British India or other South Asian households
The ayah took care of the children while the parents attended the colonial ball.
A babá cuidava das crianças enquanto os pais compareciam ao baile colonial.
2. A female servant or attendant in Indian households
The ayah prepared the nursery for the newborn.
A ama de leite preparou o quarto das crianças para o recém-nascido.
Ayah is a historical term primarily associated with British colonial India and the Raj period. While rarely used in modern Brazilian Portuguese, it appears in historical fiction, colonial narratives, and academic discussions of South Asian history. The word reflects the social structure of colonial households where indigenous female servants cared for European children. Modern Brazilian Portuguese speakers would use 'babá' instead.
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