Mädchen für alles
German
Etymology
Literally: “girl for everything”.
Noun
Mädchen für alles f (genitive Mädchens für alles, plural Mädchen für alles)
- (informal, possibly offensive) a person of either sex who has a wide variety of abilities and does odd jobs; a handyman; a jack-of-all-trades
Usage notes
- Though the word is not per se derogatory, one should refrain from using it towards strangers. It may be offensive both to men (because of the Mädchen) and women (because of the für alles).
Synonyms
- Faktotum (formal, dated)