Job titles in French are useful for discussing professions, describing your role, or understanding workplace conversations. This guide includes common job titles across different fields, along with their English equivalents, to help you navigate professional settings in French.
Common Job Titles
These are some of the most frequently used job titles in French, covering a wide range of roles and industries. Use these to describe your occupation, ask about someone’s job, or read about professions in French.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
employé / employée | employee | Je suis employé dans une banque. | I am an employee at a bank. |
directeur / directrice | director / manager | La directrice organise la réunion. | The director is organizing the meeting. |
ingénieur / ingénieure | engineer | L’ingénieur travaille sur un nouveau projet. | The engineer is working on a new project. |
enseignant / enseignante | teacher | L’enseignante explique la leçon. | The teacher explains the lesson. |
médecin | doctor | Le médecin examine le patient. | The doctor examines the patient. |
secrétaire | secretary | La secrétaire gère les appels téléphoniques. | The secretary handles phone calls. |
vendeur / vendeuse | salesperson | La vendeuse aide les clients en magasin. | The salesperson assists customers in the store. |
journaliste | journalist | Le journaliste écrit un article. | The journalist writes an article. |
étudiant / étudiante | student | L’étudiante étudie le français. | The student studies French. |
chef | chef / boss | Le chef prépare le repas. | The chef prepares the meal. |
The journalist writes an article. (French: Le ______ écrit un article.)
journaliste
'Journaliste' means 'journalist' and fits the context of writing articles.
The teacher explains the lesson. (French: L’______ explique la leçon.)
- enseignante
- enseignant
‘Enseignant’ (masculine) and ‘enseignante’ (feminine) mean 'teacher,' which matches the context of explaining a lesson.
Job Titles by Industry
Below are common job titles categorized by industry to help you learn vocabulary specific to different work environments.
Business and Administration
These job titles are common in offices, corporate settings, and administrative roles.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
assistant / assistante | assistant | L’assistante organise les rendez-vous. | The assistant schedules the appointments. |
comptable | accountant | Le comptable prépare les factures. | The accountant prepares the invoices. |
gestionnaire | manager | Le gestionnaire supervise l’équipe. | The manager supervises the team. |
ressources humaines (RH) | human resources | Le service des RH recrute de nouveaux employés. | The HR department hires new employees. |
Technology
These are common job titles in the tech industry and related fields.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
développeur / développeuse | developer | La développeuse crée des applications. | The developer creates applications. |
informaticien / informaticienne | IT specialist | L’informaticien résout les problèmes techniques. | The IT specialist fixes technical issues. |
technicien / technicienne | technician | Le technicien répare les ordinateurs. | The technician repairs computers. |
Healthcare
These job titles are used in medical and healthcare settings.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
infirmier / infirmière | nurse | L’infirmière donne des médicaments. | The nurse gives medicines. |
pharmacien / pharmacienne | pharmacist | Le pharmacien prépare les ordonnances. | The pharmacist fills prescriptions. |
chirurgien / chirurgienne | surgeon | Le chirurgien opère le patient. | The surgeon operates on the patient. |
Education
These job titles are commonly found in schools and educational institutions.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
professeur / professeure | professor / teacher | Le professeur enseigne l’histoire. | The teacher teaches history. |
directeur / directrice d’école | school principal | La directrice d’école organise les activités. | The principal organizes activities. |
assistant(e) pédagogique | teaching assistant | L’assistante pédagogique aide en classe. | The teaching assistant helps in class. |
Trades and Services
These job titles are common in manual labor, customer service, and trade professions.
French Job Title | English Job Title | French Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
plombier / plombière | plumber | Le plombier répare la fuite d’eau. | The plumber fixes the water leak. |
électricien / électricienne | electrician | L’électricien installe des lumières. | The electrician installs lights. |
coiffeur / coiffeuse | hairdresser | La coiffeuse coupe les cheveux. | The hairdresser cuts hair. |
serveur / serveuse | waiter / waitress | La serveuse prend la commande. | The waitress takes the order. |
Tips for Using Job Titles in French
- Gender agreement: Most French job titles have masculine and feminine forms (e.g., directeur / directrice). Use the appropriate form based on the person’s gender.
- Articles: Use definite (le, la), indefinite (un, une), or partitive articles as needed (e.g., Je suis un ingénieur, Elle est directrice).
- Plural forms: Add -s for plural (e.g., employés, enseignantes). Pronunciation usually remains the same.
- Le/la before job titles: When a job title follows être (to be) and refers to a specific person, the article is usually omitted (Elle est médecin). Otherwise, include the article (C’est une médecin compétente).
Practice: Match the Job Titles
- ingénieur - engineer
- médecin - doctor
- enseignant / enseignante - teacher
- vendeur / vendeuse - salesperson
- directeur / directrice - director / manager
- secrétaire - secretary
- journaliste - journalist
- étudiant / étudiante - student
- employé / employée - employee
- chef - chef / boss
What is the French word for 'engineer'?
- ingénieur
- ingénieure
'Ingénieur' (masculine) and 'ingénieure' (feminine) are the correct French words for 'engineer.'
What are the French words for 'salesperson'?
- vendeur
- vendeuse
'Vendeur' (masculine) and 'vendeuse' (feminine) mean 'salesperson' in a retail context.
Conclusion
Learning job titles in French helps you talk about work, ask questions, and understand professional contexts. Remember to pay attention to gender forms and article usage for correct grammar.
Flashcards (1 of 27)
- English Job Title: employee
- English Example: I am an employee at a bank.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025