This page covers job vocabulary in French, organized by category to help you learn and use words for different types of work, workplaces, and career-related topics. Each section includes example sentences to show how the words are used in context.
Common Occupations
Common Occupations are everyday jobs that many people have. This list covers a range of roles from various fields, along with example sentences to show how you might talk about these jobs in French.
Common Occupations
These are everyday jobs that many people have. The 10+ common French job nouns are listed below, along with example sentences.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le médecin | les médecins | doctor | doctors | Le médecin soigne les patients. | The doctor treats patients. |
| l'enseignant / l'enseignante | les enseignants / les enseignantes | teacher | teachers | L'enseignante explique la leçon. | The teacher explains the lesson. |
| l'ingénieur | les ingénieurs | engineer | engineers | L'ingénieur conçoit des ponts. | The engineer designs bridges. |
| le policier / la policière | les policiers / les policières | police officer | police officers | La policière patrouille dans le quartier. | The police officer patrols the neighborhood. |
| le serveur / la serveuse | les serveurs / les serveuses | waiter / waitress | waiters / waitresses | Le serveur prend la commande. | The waiter takes the order. |
| le chauffeur | les chauffeurs | driver | drivers | Le chauffeur conduit un taxi. | The driver drives a taxi. |
| le boulanger | les boulangers | baker | bakers | Le boulanger prépare du pain frais. | The baker prepares fresh bread. |
| le journaliste | les journalistes | journalist | journalists | Le journaliste écrit un article. | The journalist writes an article. |
| l'artiste | les artistes | artist | artists | L'artiste expose ses tableaux. | The artist exhibits their paintings. |
| le vendeur / la vendeuse | les vendeurs / les vendeuses | salesperson | salespersons | La vendeuse conseille les clients. | The salesperson advises customers. |
Workplace Vocabulary
These are common places and terms related to work settings. The 10+ French workplace nouns are listed below, along with example sentences.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le bureau | les bureaux | office | offices | Je travaille dans un grand bureau. | I work in a big office. |
| l'usine | les usines | factory | factories | L'usine produit des voitures. | The factory produces cars. |
| le magasin | les magasins | store | stores | Le magasin est ouvert jusqu'à 20h. | The store is open until 8 p.m. |
| le chantier | les chantiers | construction site | construction sites | Le chantier est très bruyant. | The construction site is very noisy. |
| l'école | les écoles | school | schools | L'école commence à huit heures. | School starts at eight o’clock. |
| l'hôpital | les hôpitaux | hospital | hospitals | Elle travaille à l'hôpital. | She works at the hospital. |
| le restaurant | les restaurants | restaurant | restaurants | Le restaurant est plein ce soir. | The restaurant is full tonight. |
| le laboratoire | les laboratoires | laboratory | laboratories | Le scientifique travaille au laboratoire. | The scientist works in the laboratory. |
| la banque | les banques | bank | banks | Je vais à la banque cet après-midi. | I am going to the bank this afternoon. |
| le cabinet | les cabinets | office (medical, legal) | offices | Le dentiste reçoit des patients dans son cabinet. | The dentist sees patients in his office. |
Fill in the blank: The factory produces cars. (L' _____ produit des voitures.)
usine
'Usine' means factory. The sentence means the factory produces cars.
Career & Job Search
These are useful words related to finding and applying for jobs. The list includes key French nouns and verbs, along with example sentences.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le travail | les travaux | job / work | jobs / works | Je cherche du travail. | I am looking for a job. |
| l'emploi (m) | les emplois | employment / job | employments / jobs | Cet emploi est à plein temps. | This job is full-time. |
| le poste | les postes | position / job | positions / jobs | Il a obtenu un poste de directeur. | He got a director position. |
| le stage | les stages | internship | internships | J'ai fait un stage en marketing. | I did an internship in marketing. |
| le CV (curriculum vitae) | les CV | résumé | résumés | Mon CV est à jour. | My résumé is up to date. |
| la candidature | les candidatures | application | applications | J'ai envoyé ma candidature par e-mail. | I sent my job application by email. |
| l'entretien (m) | les entretiens | interview | interviews | L'entretien a duré une heure. | The interview lasted one hour. |
| le salaire | les salaires | salary | salaries | Le salaire est intéressant. | The salary is attractive. |
| la compétence | les compétences | skill | skills | Les compétences linguistiques sont un plus. | Language skills are a plus. |
| le contrat | les contrats | contract | contracts | J'ai signé un contrat de trois mois. | I signed a three-month contract. |
Fill in the blank: The interview lasted one hour. (L' _____ a duré une heure.)
entretien
'Entretien' means interview (usually a job interview). The sentence means the interview lasted one hour.
Fill in the blank: I sent my job application by email. (J'ai envoyé ma _____ par e-mail.)
candidature
'Candidature' means application. The sentence means I sent my job application by email.
Work-Related Verbs
These are common French verbs used in the context of jobs and careers. The list includes infinitives with example sentences.
| French Infinitive | English Infinitive | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| travailler | to work | Je travaille tous les jours. | I work every day. |
| chercher | to look for | Elle cherche un nouvel emploi. | She is looking for a new job. |
| gagner | to earn | Il gagne bien sa vie. | He earns a good living. |
| postuler | to apply | J'ai postulé à plusieurs offres. | I applied to several job listings. |
| embaucher | to hire | L'entreprise va embaucher un ingénieur. | The company is going to hire an engineer. |
| démissionner | to resign | Elle a démissionné la semaine dernière. | She resigned last week. |
| licencier | to fire | Le patron a licencié deux employés. | The boss fired two employees. |
| collaborer | to collaborate | Nous collaborons sur ce projet. | We are collaborating on this project. |
| gérer | to manage | Il gère une équipe de dix personnes. | He manages a team of ten people. |
| organiser | to organize | Je dois organiser une réunion. | I have to organize a meeting. |
Helpful Phrases
These are common French phrases and example sentences to help you talk about jobs and work more naturally.
| French Phrase | English Phrase | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quel est votre métier ? | What is your profession? | Quel est votre métier ? | What is your profession? |
| Je suis ... | I am a ... | Je suis architecte. | I am an architect. |
| Je travaille comme ... | I work as a ... | Je travaille comme journaliste. | I work as a journalist. |
| Où travaillez-vous ? | Where do you work? | Où travaillez-vous ? | Where do you work? |
| Je travaille chez ... | I work at ... | Je travaille chez Renault. | I work at Renault. |
| Je suis en congé. | I am on leave. | Je suis en congé cette semaine. | I am on leave this week. |
| J'ai un emploi à temps plein. | I have a full-time job. | J'ai un emploi à temps plein. | I have a full-time job. |
| Je travaille à temps partiel. | I work part-time. | Je travaille à temps partiel. | I work part-time. |
| Je cherche un emploi. | I am looking for a job. | Je cherche un emploi dans le marketing. | I am looking for a job in marketing. |
| Je suis en retard au travail. | I am late for work. | Je suis en retard au travail ce matin. | I am late for work this morning. |
This Jobs page is designed to give you a solid foundation in French work vocabulary. Use the Common Occupations, Workplace Vocabulary, Career & Job Search, Work-Related Verbs, and Helpful Phrases to build sentences and have conversations about jobs in French.
Je suis en congé cette semaine.
I am on leave this week.
'Je suis en congé cette semaine.' means 'I am on leave this week.'
Quel est votre métier ?
What is your profession?
The phrase 'Quel est votre métier ?' means 'What is your profession?'
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Singular: doctor
- English Plural: doctors
- English Example: The doctor treats patients.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
