ayah

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A South Asian female servant, maid or nanny, historically, often one working for Europeans in South Asia.
noun
  1. A verse in the Quran.

Pronunciation

/ˈaɪ.ə/ /ˈɑːjə/ /ˈaɪ.(j)ɑː/

Word forms

ayah ayahs ayat

Etymology

From various Indian languages (e.g. Hindi आया (āyā, “dry nurse, nanny”)), from Portuguese aia (“nurse, governess”), from Latin avia (“grandmother”).

Related words

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