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nourrice

nanny, wet nurse

noun noo-REES Rare
People & Society Family

Also means

foster mother

Usage Note

Nourrice historically meant a wet nurse but today most commonly means a childminder who cares for children at home — often called an assistante maternelle in official contexts. The expression mettre un enfant en nourrice means to place a child with a carer. The root is the verb nourrir (to feed/nourish).

Examples

"La nourrice garde trois enfants le matin."

Natural Translation

The nanny looks after three children in the morning.

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