criadoscriadas

Cria do, or criado (masculine) and criada (feminine), is a term used in Portuguese-speaking contexts to refer to a person employed in a household to perform domestic work. Historically, the word carried connotations of being raised or brought up in the employer’s house, and thus being trusted or closely linked to the family. The form criou, criadas, and the plural criados/criadas describe male and female domestic workers respectively.

Historically, criados and criadas operated in Portugal, Brazil and other Lusophone regions. In many periods, especially in Brazil, household servants could be enslaved or bound by various forms of labor relations before abolition. In Brazil, slavery of domestic workers persisted until the late 19th century, with many criados and criadas living inside the household and performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, and child care. After abolition, the term continued in use but the work often shifted toward wage labor and formal employment relationships, though social hierarchies and long-standing stereotypes persisted in some contexts.

In contemporary usage, crioudo and criada are still understood as domestic workers in many Portuguese-speaking societies. The term can carry historical weight and, in some contexts, may be sensitive due to its associations with slavery and class. Modern legal frameworks in various countries regulate domestic work and provide protections for workers, though the social and economic dynamics around domestic service remain complex.

Notes: criados/criadas are gendered forms of the same role; the combined term "criadoscriadas" is not a standard or widely used term in formal language and may appear only in niche discussions referring collectively to male and female domestic workers. See also: domestic worker, servant, slavery in Brazil, labor law.