The Meaning Behind 'Amah': A Cultural Exploration of Asian Nanny Traditions We weren’t able to create a summary for you. Refresh your page to try again. Amah is the usual version in East Asia, while ayah relates more to South Asia, and tends to specifically mean a nursemaid looking after young children, rather than a general maid. Amah is the usual version in East Asia, while ayah relates more to South Asia, and tends to specifically mean a nursemaid looking after young children, rather than a general maid. An amah is a female domestic worker, typically of Chinese ethnicity, employed in households across East and Southeast Asia to provide childcare, perform cleaning duties, and handle cooking and other household tasks. An amah is a female domestic worker, typically of Chinese ethnicity, employed in households across East and Southeast Asia to provide childcare, perform cleaning duties, and handle cooking and other household tasks.