au pair

noun

plural au pairs ˈō-ˈperz How to pronounce au pair (audio)
: a usually young foreign person who cares for children and does domestic work for a family in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family's language

Examples of au pair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once an au pair to moody teen Brooke (Olga Petsa), Sam is forced to confront her unresolved trauma when her ex-charge suddenly goes missing. Alex Gurley, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025 The au pair even recalled testing the sound one day. David K. Li, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025 The three categories cover foreign students, exchange visitors—such as summer workers, au pairs, and medical students—and those in foreign media. Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025 The main level offers a private au pair/in-law suite that affords privacy and convenience. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for au pair

Word History

Etymology

French, on even terms

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of au pair was in 1934

Cite this Entry

“Au pair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/au%20pair. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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