In Singapore households, maids often have a close relationship with the families they work for.
While you may be clear on how to address your own family, have you wondered how maids call their new ‘family’ members? 🤔
How maids address their employers and family members is a key part of their overall relationship.
Some employers prefer to keep the boundaries clear while others treat their helper like a part of the family. 😊
While most maids are taught to address their employers in a certain way, what maids call their employers is ultimately up to the employers themselves.
Maids Are Taught To Address Employers As “Ma’am” and “Sir” By Default
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The most common way maids address their employers is by calling the female employer “Ma’am” and the male employer “Sir.” 🧑💼👩💼
This polite way of addressing the adults in the household is standard across most of Singapore.
Such terms also establish a clear boundary between both parties, reminding them of their roles while maintaining respect.
As an employer, if you are not comfortable with such terms, please tell your helper!
While some employers may prefer being addressed by their first names, many stick to these terms, which create a sense of structure in the household. 🫡
(And yes, this is common across all races in Singapore)
What Do Maids Call The Children?
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When it comes to the children in the household, things are a bit more personal.
Helpers often use familiar and affectionate terms, especially in Chinese families, to refer to the children. 🏠
For boys, if there’s a young son, the maid might call him “di di” (弟弟).
This term is often used regardless of whether the helper speaks Mandarin as her first language.
It’s a term that even non-Chinese families in Singapore understand and appreciate.
On the other hand, if there’s an older boy, he would be addressed as “kor kor” (哥哥).👦
These terms are not only respectful but also add a sense of warmth and family closeness.
For girls, the younger daughter is often called “mei mei” (妹妹) while the older daughter is older will be referred to as “jie jie” (姐姐). 👧
Maids Will Call Their Employers As Instructed
Of course, not every family in Singapore will follow this exact pattern.
Some prefer to be addressed by their names directly.
Others may even have specific preferences for how the maid should address them (really can be anything…).
At the end of the day, maids will try to adapt to the household they’re working in, learning the employer’s preferences.
Do The Way Maids Address Their Employer’s Children Matter?
The use of these closer family terms helps create a more relaxed and caring environment in the home.
For maids, it’s a way to connect with the children on a deeper level. 😊
While the maid is clear that she is working, she is also human and wants to develop a relationship with the children.
Kids also feel more comfortable around the maid, making it easier to build trust and for the maid to work.
Taking a formal or more casual approach would depend on how the employers want their relationship to go. ❤️
These simple terms can make all the difference in building trust and fostering a comfortable, harmonious relationship with the whole family.
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