maid
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maid
A female domestic servant who lives and works in a family's household and performs tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or washing. The term is considered outdated today.
In dem historischen Roman verliebte sich der junge Graf in ein Dienstmädchen.
In the historical novel, the young count fell in love with a maid.
The word is made up of 'Dienst' (work/service) and 'Mädchen' (girl). Because of the diminutive ending '-chen', the word has the neuter article 'das', even though it describes a female person.
Das Dienstmädchen war für die Sauberkeit im ganzen Haus verantwortlich.
The maid was responsible for cleanliness throughout the whole house.
This term is outdated today and is no longer used for modern domestic workers. You find it almost only in historical novels, films, or texts that refer to the period up to around the middle of the 20th century.
Die Großmutter erzählte Geschichten aus ihrer Jugend, als ihre Familie noch ein Dienstmädchen hatte.
The grandmother told stories from her youth, when her family still had a maid.
In historical contexts, the word is often used with verbs such as 'als Dienstmädchen arbeiten' (to work as a maid) or 'ein Dienstmädchen einstellen' (to hire a maid).
Nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern musste sie in der Stadt als Dienstmädchen arbeiten.
After the death of her parents, she had to work as a maid in the city.
maiden / maid
Both words can refer to a female domestic worker in a household in the past. “Dienstmädchen” is the specific occupational term, while “Maid” sounds old-fashioned or deliberately historical. In a factual historical text, “Dienstmädchen” is usually more precise; “Maid” sounds more strongly archaic or poetic.
Das Dienstmädchen arbeitete im alten Haushalt und erledigte jeden Morgen die Hausarbeit.
The maid worked in the old household and did the housework every morning.
Im historischen Roman kümmerte sich die Maid um die Hausarbeit der Familie.
In the historical novel, the maid took care of the family’s household chores.
