Pronunciation: [pˈɔːtəɹəs] (IPA) 
The word "porteress" refers to a female porter or one who assists in carrying luggage. The spelling of this word is based on its French origin, where the feminine form of porter is "porteuse." In English, the suffix "-ess" is added to the end of a noun to indicate a female counterpart. The IPA phonetic transcription of "porteress" is /ˈpɔːtərɛs/, where the stress is on the first syllable and the final "s" is pronounced as "z."
A porteress is a noun that refers to a female worker whose job primarily involves carrying heavy loads or assisting with physical tasks, usually in the context of a hotel, inn, or similar establishment. Also known as a chambermaid, a porteress is responsible for a range of duties centered around maintaining cleanliness and orderliness within the establishment, particularly in guest rooms and common areas.
The role of a porteress often entails tasks such as cleaning and tidying guest rooms, including making beds, dusting furniture, and replenishing amenities. In addition, a porteress is usually in charge of transporting guests' luggage to and from their rooms, ensuring it is safely handled and stored. They may also offer assistance to guests, providing information or recommendations about the locale, operating elevators, or organizing transportation services.
A competent porteress possesses excellent physical stamina and strength to handle heavy loads, attention to detail for maintaining cleanliness standards, and exceptional interpersonal skills for interacting with guests in a polite and helpful manner. They typically work under the supervision of managers or supervisors and may collaborate with other staff members to ensure a seamless and efficient operation. The term porteress is somewhat old-fashioned, and the role may also be referred to as a female porter or housekeeper in modern contexts. Despite this, the concept remains the same: a female worker dedicated to supporting the smooth functioning and comfort of guests in a lodging establishment.
The word "porteress" is derived from the noun "porter", which dates back to the 14th century. "Porter" originally referred to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, someone responsible for controlling access to a building or a city gate. In Middle English, the term "porter" came from the Old French word "portier", which had the same meaning.
The suffix "-ess" in "porteress" denotes female gender, indicating that a "porteress" is a female porter. This convention of using the suffix "-ess" to denote female counterparts can be found in many other English words as well.
Overall, "porteress" essentially means a female gatekeeper or doorkeeper, though in modern usage, it can also refer to a woman employed in various service or hospitality roles, such as a hotel porter or concierge.
