Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'housekeeper'

English Word: housekeeper

Key Russian Translations:

• Домработница [dɐm.rɐ.ˈbot.nʲɪ.tsə] - [Formal, Feminine]
• Домработник [dɐm.rɐ.ˈbot.nʲɪk] - [Formal, Masculine or General]
• Экономка [jɪ.kɐˈnom.kə] - [Informal, Feminine, Used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in household and employment discussions, but not as frequent as basic everyday words like "дом" for "house").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun genders and basic inflections, with "Домработница" being slightly easier for beginners due to regular patterns, while "Домработник" may vary by context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Домработница: [dɐm.rɐ.ˈbot.nʲɪ.tsə]

Домработник: [dɐm.rɐ.ˈbot.nʲɪk]

Экономка: [jɪ.kɐˈnom.kə]

Note on Домработница: Stress falls on the third syllable ("bot"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns; be careful with the soft 'н' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person employed to manage or clean a household

Translation(s) & Context:

• Домработница - Used in formal employment contexts, such as hiring for a large home.
• Домработник - General term for a male or gender-neutral housekeeper, often in professional settings.
• Экономка - Informal term for a housekeeper who also manages finances, common in family discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Мы наняли домработницу, чтобы она убирала дом по выходным.

  We hired a housekeeper to clean the house on weekends.

• Домработник в нашей семье отвечает за повседневные дела и закупки.

  The housekeeper in our family handles everyday tasks and shopping.

• Экономка бабушки всегда знала, как экономить на продуктах.

  Grandma's housekeeper always knew how to save money on groceries.

• Без надежной домработницы трудно поддерживать порядок в большом доме.

  It's hard to maintain order in a large house without a reliable housekeeper.

• Мой домработник помогает с готовкой и уборкой, что упрощает жизнь.

  My housekeeper helps with cooking and cleaning, which makes life easier.

A broader sense of household management

Translation(s) & Context:

• Домработница - In extended contexts, referring to someone overseeing home affairs in a professional capacity.
• Экономка - Often implies financial management, used in informal or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В старых русских семьях экономка была ключевой фигурой в управлении домом.

  In old Russian families, the housekeeper was a key figure in managing the household.

• Домработница не только убирает, но и организует быт всей семьи.

  The housekeeper not only cleans but also organizes the daily life of the entire family.

• Экономка в этом отеле отвечает за бюджет и обслуживание гостей.

  The housekeeper in this hotel manages the budget and guest services.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These nouns are typically first declension for feminine forms and second for masculine, with regular patterns in Russian. "Домработница" (feminine) and "Домработник" (masculine) inflect based on case and number, while "Экономка" follows similar rules.

Note: These are regular inflections; "Экономка" does not change in some informal uses but follows standard patterns in formal writing.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Горничная (feminine, specifically for cleaning roles; less formal than Домработница)
  • Уборщица (focuses on cleaning; used in everyday contexts)
  • Хозяйка (implies ownership or management; can have subtle differences in connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • Гость (guest; opposite in a household context)
  • Незваный гость (uninvited guest; emphasizes lack of responsibility)

Related Phrases:

• Домашняя работница - A phrase meaning "domestic worker," often used interchangeably with housekeeper; refers to paid household help.
• Нанять домработницу - Meaning "to hire a housekeeper"; common in job-related discussions.
• Экономка по хозяйству - Translates to "housekeeper for the estate"; implies management of larger properties.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "housekeeper" translations like "Домработница" are gender-specific, so choose based on the person's gender or use "Домработник" for neutral contexts. It's more formal in professional settings, unlike English where "housekeeper" can be casual. Be mindful of case inflections when using in sentences, as Russian requires agreement with other words. For example, if the housekeeper is female, pair it with feminine adjectives.

• When selecting between translations, use "Экономка" for roles involving financial duties, as it carries a nuance of thriftiness.
• In modern usage, these terms are common in urban areas but may vary in rural dialects.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse gender agreements, e.g., using "Домработник" for a female housekeeper, which should be "Домработница." Incorrect: "Я нанял домработник" (wrong gender). Correct: "Я наняла домработницу" (if speaker is female referring to female housekeeper). Another error is omitting inflections, like saying "для домработница" instead of "для домработницы" in genitive case, which disrupts sentence flow. Always check for case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, housekeepers like "домработницы" have historically been common in wealthy households, as depicted in literature such as Tolstoy's works, symbolizing social status. Today, the role reflects changing family dynamics, with more emphasis on professional services in urban areas, highlighting Russia's evolving work culture.

Related Concepts:

• Служанка (maid)
• Няня (nanny)
• Библиотекарь (librarian, if extending to home management roles)