a young person, usually a woman, who lives with a family in a foreign country in order to learn the language. An au pair helps in the house and takes care of children and receives a small wage. 互惠(女)生(住国外家庭,以劳动换取食宿并学习语言) She worked in Paris for six months as an au pair. 她在巴黎做了六个月的临时工作。 There are very few male au pairs. 男盟对很少。 We decided to get an au pair to help with the children. 我们决定找一对临时保姆来帮助照看孩子。
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘on equal terms’. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.