Definition
A woman hired to do cleaning and household chores, especially on a part-time or temporary basis.
Etymology
From char (Old English cerran meaning 'to turn or do chores') + woman (Old English wifman). 'Char' became a general term for work or tasks, especially cleaning.
Kelly Says
Charwomen were essential to Victorian households—they worked irregular hours, cleaned for multiple employers, and were often invisible labor that kept wealthy homes running smoothly.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ቤት አስተዳደር
bet as-te-da-der
ARالعربية
خادمة
kha-de-ma
BNবাংলা
গৃহিনী
gro-hee-nee
CACatalà
donya de la casa
don-ya deh la ka-sa
CSČeština
domácí
do-ma-ch-ee
DEDeutsch
Hausfrau
haws-froo
ELΕλληνικά
γυναίκα καθαρισμού
yi-na-ka ka-tha-ri-smo
ESEspañol
mujer de servicio doméstico
mu-her deh se-r-vee-doh do-mes-tee-ko
FAفارسی
بانوی خانه
ba-no-ye kha-neh
FISuomi
kotiäiti
ko-ti-ay-ti
FRFrançais
femme de ménage
famm duh mahn-zh
GUGU
ઘરની મહિલા
ghar-nee mahi-la
HEעברית
עובדת ניקיון
oo-vad-et nee-kee-yon
HIहिन्दी
सफाई महिला
sa-fai-mee-la
HUMagyar
házmester
haaz-mes-ter
IDBahasa Indonesia
pembantu rumah tangga
pem-ban-too roo-mah tan-ga
IGIG
nwanyi amachị
n-wa-nyi a-ma-chi
ITItaliano
donna delle pulizie
donna delle poo-lee-zee
KKKK
Отбасы айнасы
ot-ba-sy ayn-a-sy
KMKM
ម្ចាស់ផ្ទះ
m-ch-a-s ph-da
MSBahasa Melayu
pembantu rumah tangga
pem-ban-too roo-mah tan-ga
MYမြန်မာ
ကမ္ဘာ ပြုစု
kam-ba pru-su
NLNederlands
huishoudster
hwi-shoo-st-er
PAPA
ਘਰ ਦੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ
ghar dee mahi-la
PLPolski
gospodyni domowa
gos-po-d-ni do-mo-wa
PTPortuguês
faxineira
fa-shee-nay-ra
RORomână
casnică
ka-sni-ka
RUРусский
домохозяйка
do-mo-khoz-ay-ka
SVSvenska
hemhjälpare
hem-hyal-pa-re
SWKiswahili
mwanamke wa usafi
mwa-na-m-ke wa oo-sa-fi
TAதமிழ்
வீட்டுக்கொழுகி
vee-tukk-o-zhu-ki
TEతెలుగు
గృహిణి
gru-hi-nee
THไทย
หญิงทำความสะอาด
ying tam kwam sa-ad
TLTL
katulong sa bahay
ka-tu-long sa ba-hay
TRTürkçe
ev hanımı
ev han-ee-me
UKУкраїнська
домогосподарка
do-mo-go-spo-dar-ka
URاردو
گھر کی خاتون
ghar kee kha-toon
VITiếng Việt
người làm vệ sinh
ngoo-ee lam vay-sinh
ZUZU
umfazi wasebenza
oom-fa-zi wa-se-ben-za
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Charwoman (cleaning woman hired by the day) became a feminized occupation during the 19th-20th centuries. The term reflects gendered labor stratification where working-class women dominated domestic service roles with associated low pay and status.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'cleaner' or 'cleaning worker' to describe the occupation without gender specification. If historical context is relevant, note that women disproportionately filled these roles.
Inclusive Alternatives
["cleaner","cleaning worker","housecleaner"]
Empowerment Note
Working-class women have historically organized for better wages and conditions in cleaning work; labor unions like the IUE and SEIU centered women's voices in these fights.