ama de llave

Question

ama de casa is "housewife" ama de llave is house cleaner here in Mexico? I cannot find a phrase on this site that matches "house cleaner" similar to ama de llave? What is correct phrase?

Answer 1

I think it's a housekeeper, rather than a mere cleaner. Soembody in charge of the housekeeping.

Thanks annie! I learn something new from you in almost every post. :-) - 0095ca4c, Dec 12, 2012

Annie the question is not what is the correct English term but what is the Spanish term. Why ama of the keys? - jeagles, Dec 12, 2012

Because the housekeeper , la ama de llaves holds the keys to the rooms, the cellar, whatever, it indicates responsibility. - annierats, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 2

Annie is right, but it´s plural ..... ama de llaves

Thankk you, Julián. I knew I had sen it. - annierats, Dec 13, 2012

Answer 3

Are you tearing your hair out jeagles? I understand from your question that there are two designations/names required for people with two different responsibilities. The first of these is the housekeeper or "ama de casa". The second is the char/cleaner/cleaning lady and the basic question is what, if it exists, is a poetical Spanish translation of this person's role. In Mexico, this person is called an "ama de llave". The suggestion is that, maybe this is used elsewhere. If it is not, then what similar apellation is used?

Sad to say I can't find anything better than "lavadora", a very boring term by comparison.

Geof, "ama de llaves" is not the cleaning lady but the person in charge of all the maids in a hotel, etc - just as Annie said "housekeeper." "Ama de casa" has the same responsibility but in her own house - "the lady of the house" - 005faa61, Dec 13, 2012

Julian - I know that but jeagles is telling us that she's the cleaning lady in Mexico - which (indirectly i admit) I'm querying. - geofc, Dec 13, 2012