Having a 'job' is a fundamental part of life for many, and it's a word you'll use frequently in any language. While there are common go-to terms for 'job' in French, the reality is that the language offers a rich variety of expressions to convey different nuances of work, employment, and profession.

Whether you're discussing your career, asking someone what they do, or simply talking about daily tasks, knowing these alternative phrases will make your French sound much more natural and sophisticated.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'job' in French and understand when to use each one!

The standard 'work' or 'job' – le travail

The standard “work” or “job” – le travail

Le travail is the most basic and common word for “work” or “job” in French.

This noun is masculine and singular (le travail). Its plural form is les travaux, which often refers to projects, construction work, or academic papers, rather than multiple jobs in the sense of employment.

One primary meaning of le travail is the activity of working, labor, or effort involved in a task. It emphasizes the process rather than a specific position.

Le travail can also refer to a specific job, employment, or profession. It’s a formal and widely accepted term for one's occupation.

In some contexts, le travail can denote a completed piece of work, a task, an assignment, or the result of labor, especially in an academic or artistic sense.

The corresponding verb “to work” is travailler. It is a regular -er verb and is used extensively in French to describe the act of working.

Here are a few common expressions using le travail:

Chercher du travail - To look for work/a job
Être au travail - To be at work
Un travail à temps plein/partiel - A full-time/part-time job
Le monde du travail - The world of work

While le travail is standard, un boulot is a very common, informal synonym for “a job.” It's often used in casual conversation, similar to

Le travail is suitable for all registers – formal, informal, written, and spoken. It’s the safest and most versatile choice when discussing work or employment in French, whereas un boulot is best reserved for casual settings.

💡 * Je dois aller au travail. (I have to go to work.)

Mon travail est très intéressant. (My job is very interesting.)

Il a trouvé un nouveau travail. (He found a new job.)

C'est un travail difficile. (It's a difficult task/work.)

Les travaux de construction avancent bien. (The construction works are progressing well.)

The formal 'employment' or 'job' – l'emploi

The formal “employment” or “job” – l’emploi

When discussing a job in a formal or official context, the French word you’ll most frequently encounter is l'emploi. It signifies a position of employment or the state of being employed.

Unlike the more general travail (work) or the informal boulot (job/gig), l'emploi specifically refers to a structured, often paid, position within an organization or company.

Its usage carries a connotation of formality, often appearing in official documents, job advertisements, economic reports, or when discussing the job market and employment rates. It implies a sense of a formal agreement or status.

For instance, you would use l'emploi when talking about “seeking employment” (rechercher un emploi), an “employment contract” (un contrat d'emploi), or discussing “full-time employment” (un emploi à temps plein).

While travail can refer to the act of working or work in general, l'emploi specifically denotes a concrete job position. You do your travail at your emploi.

Understanding l'emploi is crucial for navigating professional conversations and official communications in French, highlighting its importance in the professional sphere.

💡 * Il recherche un emploi dans le domaine de l'informatique. (He is looking for a job in the IT field.)

L'emploi des jeunes est une priorité pour le gouvernement. (Youth employment is a priority for the government.)

Elle a trouvé un emploi stable après ses études. (She found a stable job after her studies.)

Le marché de l'emploi est très compétitif en ce moment. (The job market is very competitive right now.)

Son contrat d'emploi est à durée indéterminée. (His employment contract is for an indefinite period.)

The 'position' or 'post' – le poste

The French word le poste is quite versatile, commonly translating to 'position' or 'post', but also having other meanings depending on the context.

One of its most frequent uses is to refer to a job position or role within a company or organization. It's often heard in professional settings when discussing careers or vacancies.

Le poste can also denote a physical station, post, or outpost, such as a police station (un poste de police) or a military post (un poste militaire). It implies a designated location for a specific function.

In a different context, le poste can refer to an electronic device like a radio set (un poste de radio) or an old television set (un poste de télévision).

It's crucial not to confuse le poste (masculine, meaning position, station, or set) with la Poste (feminine, always referring to the Post Office institution or the mail service itself).

Remember that poste is a masculine noun in all these contexts, always preceded by 'le' or another masculine determiner.

As with many French words, the precise meaning of le poste is heavily reliant on the surrounding context. Pay attention to the sentence structure and other words used to determine if it refers to a job, a location, or a piece of equipment.

💡 * Elle a obtenu un bon poste dans une grande entreprise. (She got a good position in a big company.)

Le poste de police est juste au coin de la rue. (The police station is just around the corner.)

J'ai écouté la musique sur mon vieux poste de radio. (I listened to music on my old radio set.)

Quel poste occupez-vous ? (What position do you hold?)

Il surveille son poste depuis des heures. (He's been watching his post for hours.)

The 'profession' or 'occupation' – la profession

The term la profession directly translates to 'the profession' or 'the occupation' in English. It refers to a person's principal activity or line of work.

La profession is generally used in more formal contexts, such as official documents, surveys, or when discussing one's career in a somewhat official capacity. It's less common in casual conversation compared to le métier or le boulot (slang).

To ask someone about their profession, you would typically use phrases like Quelle est votre profession ? (What is your profession? - formal) or Quelle est ta profession ? (What is your profession? - informal).

As indicated by the article la, profession is a feminine noun in French, meaning it always takes feminine articles and adjectives.

💡 * Quelle est votre profession ? Je suis médecin. (What is your profession? I am a doctor.)

Elle a choisi une profession exigeante. (She chose a demanding profession.)

Dans ce formulaire, veuillez indiquer votre profession. (On this form, please indicate your profession.)

La profession d'enseignant est essentielle. (The teaching profession is essential.)

The 'trade' or 'craft' – le métier

The "trade" or "craft" – le métier

In French, le métier refers to a trade, craft, or profession. It denotes an occupation that often requires specific skills, training, or expertise.

Unlike a general "job" (un boulot or un travail), le métier often carries the connotation of a vocation or a skilled profession that one learns and practices, such as a carpenter, baker, or doctor.

It's frequently used when asking about someone's profession or line of work, as in "Quel est votre métier ?" (What is your profession/trade?).

Beyond a specific occupation, le métier can also refer to the skill or art involved in doing something well, like "le métier d'acteur" (the craft of acting) or "avoir le métier" (to have the skill/know-how).

Remember that métier is a masculine noun, always preceded by a masculine article (e.g., le métier, un métier).

💡 * Quel est ton métier ? (What is your profession?)

Mon père est boulanger, c'est un beau métier. (My father is a baker, it's a beautiful trade.)

Elle a appris son métier sur le tas. (She learned her trade on the job.)

Le métier d'enseignant est très exigeant. (The teaching profession is very demanding.)

Pour faire ce travail, il faut avoir le métier. (To do this work, you need to have the skill/know-how.)

The 'career' or 'vocation' – la carrière

In French, the word for 'career' or 'vocation' is la carrière. This feminine noun is widely used to describe one's professional journey, a chosen field of work, or the progression through a profession.

Interestingly, carrière comes from the Latin carraria, meaning 'road for vehicles.' While its primary modern use is professional, it also retains older meanings like 'quarry' (a place where stone is extracted) or 'racetrack' (for horses or cars). However, in the context of work, it exclusively refers to a professional path.

When discussing someone's professional life, la carrière is the go-to term. It encompasses the series of jobs and experiences that make up a person's working life, often implying a long-term commitment and development within a field.

You'll often hear la carrière in common expressions. For instance, faire carrière means 'to pursue a career' or 'to make a career out of something,' while fin de carrière refers to 'the end of a career' or 'retirement.'

While un métier (a trade/job) and une profession (a profession) refer to specific types of work, la carrière focuses on the overall trajectory and development within a field over time. A métier is what you do, a carrière is where your professional journey leads you.

💡 *Elle a fait une brillante carrière dans la finance. (She had a brilliant career in finance.)
*Ma carrière est très importante pour moi. (My career is very important to me.)
*Il est à la fin de sa carrière et va bientôt prendre sa retraite. (He is at the end of his career and will soon retire.)
*Quelle carrière aimerais-tu poursuivre ? (What career would you like to pursue?)
*Cette décision pourrait affecter toute sa carrière. (This decision could affect his entire career.)

The informal 'work' or 'job' – le boulot

While le travail is the standard French word for 'work' or 'job', le boulot is its much more informal and commonly used equivalent in everyday conversation. Think of it as the French equivalent of saying 'gig' or 'grind' in English.

Le boulot is widely used to refer to one's job, task, or even just 'stuff to do'. It's prevalent in casual settings among friends, family, and colleagues, making your French sound more natural and less formal.

It's important to note that le boulot maintains an informal tone. While perfectly acceptable in most casual social contexts, you'd typically opt for le travail or l'emploi in more formal or professional written communication.

💡 * J'ai beaucoup de boulot aujourd'hui. (I have a lot of work today.)

Comment va ton nouveau boulot ? (How's your new job going?)

Il est rentré tard du boulot. (He came home late from work.)

C'est un boulot difficile mais bien payé. (It's a difficult but well-paid job.)

On se voit après le boulot ? (Shall we see each other after work?)

The 'task' or 'chore' – la besogne

The noun la besogne refers to a 'task,' 'chore,' or 'piece of work.' It often carries a connotation of hard, laborious, or even unpleasant work, distinguishing it from a simple tâche (task).

La besogne typically implies work that is repetitive, demanding, or less glamorous, often something that must be done. Think of manual labor, household chores, or demanding professional assignments rather than creative or intellectual pursuits.

You'll often find la besogne in expressions like faire sa besogne (to do one's work/chore) or avoir de la besogne (to have a lot of work/chores). While not extremely common in everyday conversation, it's understood and used, particularly in more formal or literary contexts, or to emphasize the arduous nature of the work.

💡 * Il a terminé sa besogne avant de rentrer. (He finished his work before going home.)

Les tâches ménagères sont souvent une lourde besogne. (Household chores are often a heavy burden/chore.)

Le soldat a fait sa besogne sans se plaindre. (The soldier did his duty without complaining.)

J'ai beaucoup de besogne à accomplir cette semaine. (I have a lot of work to accomplish this week.)

The 'duties' or 'functions' – les fonctions

The French term for "duties" or "functions" is les fonctions. This is the plural form of la fonction, a feminine noun. It's a versatile word used in various contexts to describe responsibilities, roles, or the operations of something.

In a professional setting, les fonctions commonly refers to the duties or responsibilities associated with a job or position. When discussing a job description, you'll often hear this term to outline what a person is expected to do.

Beyond human roles, les fonctions also describes the functions or operations of machines, systems, or even biological processes. For example, you might talk about the functions of a smartphone, a car engine, or the vital functions of the human body.

Remember that les fonctions is a feminine plural noun. Its singular form is la fonction. It's important to use the correct articles and adjective agreements when incorporating it into sentences to maintain grammatical accuracy.

💡 * Quelles sont les fonctions principales de ce nouveau poste ? (What are the main duties of this new position?)

Les fonctions vitales du corps humain sont essentielles à la survie. (The vital functions of the human body are essential for survival.)

Ce logiciel offre de nombreuses fonctions avancées. (This software offers many advanced functions.)

Mes fonctions au sein de l'entreprise ont évolué. (My duties within the company have evolved.)

Il a expliqué les différentes fonctions de l'appareil. (He explained the different functions of the device.)

Are there other ways to say 'job' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'job' in French. But like any language, French has a rich vocabulary, including old-fashioned terms, regional variations, and evolving slang that even this author might not be fully aware of!

You can also do an online search for 'comment dire travail en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for travail or emploi on this list. As always, verify a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you'll likely discover different ways people refer to their work or profession.

And if you're looking for more nuanced ways to talk about jobs, professions, or even unemployment in French, the WordReference entries for travail and emploi are excellent starting points!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary related to jobs. To conclude, here's a fitting quote, also from Voltaire: Le travail éloigne de nous trois grands maux : l'ennui, le vice et le besoin. (Work keeps away from us three great evils: boredom, vice, and need.)

9 ways to say "job" in French