メイド

めいど
noun
maid; maid cafe worker
occupation
1. maid, housemaid
A female domestic servant who cleans and does household work. From English "maid."
メイド(やと)
To hire a maid.
She worked as a maid at a wealthy family's home.
In old Western aristocratic mansions, there were many maids.
2. maid cafe worker, maid (subculture)
A worker at a maid cafe, dressed in a maid costume and providing a themed hospitality experience. Part of Japanese otaku subculture, especially associated with Akihabara.
I tried going to a maid cafe.
In Akihabara, girls in maid outfits are soliciting customers on the street.
At maid cafes, the staff greet you by saying 'Welcome home, master.'

Usage

Sense 1 refers to the traditional meaning of a domestic servant, used when discussing Western households or historical settings. Sense 2 reflects modern Japanese pop culture, where メイド is strongly associated with 秋葉原(あきはばら) (Akihabara) and otaku culture.

Cultural note

メイド喫茶(きっさ) (maid cafes) became a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s. Staff wear elaborate maid costumes and interact with customers using theatrical hospitality, addressing them as ご主人様(しゅじんさま) (master) or 嬢様(じょうさま) (milady).

Common collocations