Definition
People employed to clean and maintain buildings like schools, offices, or public spaces.
Etymology
From Latin 'janitor' (doorkeeper), from 'janus' (door). Originally meant the person who guarded the door; the meaning expanded to include general building maintenance.
Kelly Says
The word 'janitor' comes from Janus, the Roman god of doorways who had two faces to guard both entrances and exits—so janitors were originally just the guys protecting the doors!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አንድ ሰራተኛ ነው
an-d se-ra-te-ny-a ne-w
ARالعربية
عمال النظافة
ʕamal an-naẓāfah
BNবাংলা
স্বচ্ছতা কর্মী
shw-chchch-ta kor-mee
CACatalà
netejadors
ne-te-ja-dors
CSČeština
čistíci
chees-tee-tsi
DADansk
rengøringsfolk
ren-goer-ings-folk
DEDeutsch
Hausmeister
how-sh-my-ster
ELΕλληνικά
καθαριστές
ka-tha-ri-stes
ESEspañol
conserjes
kon-ser-hes
FAفارسی
کارگر نظافت
kaar-gar na-zafat
FISuomi
siivousmiehet
siiv-ous-mie-het
FRFrançais
employés de ménage
em-ploy-day duh ma-nyah
GUGU
સફાઈકર્મી
sa-fa-i-kar-mee
HAHA
ma'aikatan tsafta
ma-ai-ka-tan tsaf-ta
HIहिन्दी
साफ-सफाई कर्मी
saaf-safai karmee
HUMagyar
tisztítók
tish-tee-took
IDBahasa Indonesia
penjaga kebersihan
pen-ja-ga ke-ber-sihan
ITItaliano
personale di pulizia
per-so-na-le di poo-lee-tza
KMKM
កម្មករល้าง
kam-mok-ro-l-ang
MRMR
स्वच्छता कर्मी
shw-chchch-ta kar-mee
MSBahasa Melayu
pembantu kebersihan
pem-ban-tu ke-ber-sihan
MYမြန်မာ
ကျောင်းဆောက်သူ
chaung-sauk-tha-tu
NLNederlands
schoonmakers
schoon-ma-kers
NONorsk
rengjøringsfolk
ren-jør-ings-folk
PAPA
ਸਫਾਈ ਕਰਤਾ
sa-fa-ai kar-ta
PLPolski
strażnicy porządku
shtranz-ni-chi por-zhad-ku
PTPortuguês
porteiros
por-tay-rohs
RORomână
angajați de curățenie
an-ga-ja-ți de cu-ra-țenie
RUРусский
сотрудники
so-trud-ni-ki
SVSvenska
städare
stah-dare
SWKiswahili
wakala wa usafi
wa-ka-la wa oo-sa-fi
TAதமிழ்
சுத்தம் செய்பவர்கள்
shuththam sey-pa-var-gal
TEతెలుగు
సీసా కార్మికులు
seesaa kar-mi-kulu
THไทย
คนงานทำความสะอาด
kon-ngan tam-kwam-sa-at
TLTL
mga taga-linis
mga ta-ga-li-nis
TRTürkçe
temizlik işçileri
teh-miz-lik ish-chi-le-ri
UKУкраїнська
прибиральники
pri-bra-ral-ni-ki
VITiếng Việt
người dọn dẹp
ngoo-ee don-dep
ZUZU
abathengi
a-ba-then-gi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Janitorial work became feminized in the 20th century, shifting from male-dominated trades to underpaid, largely female-immigrant labor. Language that names the role equally applies to all genders but usage patterns often erase contributions.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'janitor' neutrally for any person in this role; actively credit specific individuals' labor and expertise when naming contributions.
Inclusive Alternatives
["custodian (neutral alternative with equivalent status)"]
Empowerment Note
Women janitors, many immigrants, often rendered invisible—recognize named individuals' skill in facility maintenance and safety protocols.