Travail is undoubtedly the most common word for "work" in French. But just like in English, there are many nuances and situations where other words or phrases would be more appropriate. Whether you're discussing your job, a specific task, an ongoing project, or the general concept of effort, expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'travail' will significantly enhance your fluency. Get ready to discover 9 different ways to say "work" in French and sound like a native!

The general 'work' (as a noun) – le travail

The general “work” (as a noun) – le travail

Le travail is the most common and fundamental French word for “work” when used as a noun, encompassing both the activity of working and, sometimes, the output of that effort.

This word is masculine. While the general concept of “work” or “a job” is le travail (singular), its plural form, les travaux, is specifically used for concrete tasks, projects, or collective efforts (e.g., road works, school assignments, repairs).

Most frequently, le travail refers to the act of working or one’s occupation. It's your daily grind, your profession, or the place you go to earn a living.

When referring to a specific piece of work, a project, or a set of tasks, the plural form les travaux is often used. Think of it as 'works' in the sense of construction projects, repairs, or academic assignments.

You’ll often encounter le travail in various common expressions: aller au travail (to go to work), chercher du travail (to look for work/a job), un travail d’équipe (teamwork), être au travail (to be at work).

Le travail is a versatile word suitable for all registers – from casual conversations among friends to formal business discussions or academic papers. It’s your standard go-to for 'work'.

While related, le travail is distinct from other words like une œuvre (an artistic or intellectual work/masterpiece) or un emploi (a specific paid job/employment position). Le travail is the broader concept of effort and activity.

In French culture, le travail often carries a strong connotation of effort and dedication. The concept of 'work-life balance' (l'équilibre vie professionnelle/vie personnelle) is highly valued, influencing how le travail is perceived in daily life.

💡 * Je vais au travail tous les jours à 8h. (I go to work every day at 8 AM.)

• Elle cherche du travail dans le marketing. (She is looking for work in marketing.)
• Les travaux de rénovation sont presque terminés. (The renovation works are almost finished.)
• C'est un travail difficile mais gratifiant. (It's a difficult but rewarding job/work.)
• Nous avons beaucoup de travail à faire cette semaine. (We have a lot of work to do this week.)

The action 'to work' (as a verb) – travailler

The action 'to work' (as a verb) – travailler

The most common and direct way to express 'to work' in French, in the sense of performing labor, having a job, or putting in effort, is the verb travailler.

Travailler is a regular -er verb. This means its conjugation follows a predictable pattern, making it relatively straightforward for beginners to learn and use in various tenses.

This verb is primarily used when referring to a person's employment, profession, or the effort they put into a task. It emphasizes human activity and engagement.

Travailler often pairs with prepositions to specify context. For instance, travailler à means 'to work at/on something' (e.g., a project), and travailler pour means 'to work for' (e.g., a company or a person).

You'll frequently encounter expressions like travailler dur (to work hard), travailler en équipe (to work as a team), or travailler du chapeau (an informal idiom meaning 'to be a bit crazy'), showcasing its versatility.

While travailler is for people doing work, it's important to note that for objects or systems 'working' (functioning properly), the verb fonctionner is typically used (e.g., 'The machine works' is La machine fonctionne).

💡 * Je travaille à Paris. (I work in Paris.)

• Elle travaille comme enseignante. (She works as a teacher.)
• Nous travaillons sur un nouveau projet. (We are working on a new project.)
• Ils travaillent dur pour réussir. (They work hard to succeed.)
• Mon père travaille pour une grande entreprise. (My father works for a big company.)

The 'job' or 'employment' – l'emploi

When you're talking about a 'job' or 'employment' in French, the noun l'emploi is one of the most common and versatile terms you'll encounter.

Primarily, l'emploi refers to the state of being employed, or a specific position or occupation. It's the most direct translation for 'employment'.

L'emploi is a masculine noun. While it starts with a vowel, meaning it often appears as l'emploi (the employment/job), its indefinite form is un emploi (a job). It doesn't have a plural form when referring to 'employment' in general, but les emplois can mean 'the jobs/positions'.

You'll use l'emploi when discussing the general concept of employment or the job market. For instance, 'le taux d'emploi' means 'the employment rate'.

It can also refer to a particular job or position. In this sense, it's quite similar to un poste. For example, 'trouver un emploi' means 'to find a job'.

Several common phrases use l'emploi: chercher un emploi (to look for a job), offres d'emploi (job offers), avoir un emploi (to have a job), and perdre son emploi (to lose one's job).

While l'emploi is widely used, it often carries a slightly more formal or administrative tone compared to le travail when referring to a specific job. Think of it as 'employment' vs. 'work'.

💡 * Il a décroché un nouvel emploi à Paris. (He landed a new job in Paris.)

• Les offres d'emploi sont nombreuses dans ce secteur. (Job offers are numerous in this sector.)
• Elle est à la recherche d'un emploi stable. (She is looking for stable employment.)
• Le gouvernement veut créer plus d'emplois. (The government wants to create more jobs.)
• J'ai postulé pour cet emploi. (I applied for this job.)

The 'profession' or 'trade' – le métier

The French word le métier translates directly to 'profession,' 'trade,' or 'craft' in English. It refers to a specific occupation that often requires a certain skill, training, or apprenticeship.

While it can sometimes be synonymous with 'job' (un emploi), le métier often carries a connotation of a more established career, a vocation, or a skilled trade rather than just any temporary work.

It is frequently used in phrases like faire un métier (to practice a profession/trade) or changer de métier (to change professions). It emphasizes the nature of the work itself.

It's important to remember that métier is a masculine noun. Therefore, it is always preceded by masculine articles like le (the) or un (a/an).

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

• Il apprend un nouveau métier. (He is learning a new trade.)
• C'est un métier difficile mais passionnant. (It's a difficult but fascinating profession.)
• Elle rêve de faire de sa passion son métier. (She dreams of making her passion her profession.)
• Le métier d'enseignant demande beaucoup de patience. (The teaching profession requires a lot of patience.)

The 'task' or 'assignment' – la tâche

The 'task' or 'assignment' – la tâche

La tâche is a fundamental French noun meaning 'task,' 'chore,' or 'assignment.' It refers to a specific piece of work that needs to be done.

It's a versatile word used in both everyday conversations and more formal, professional settings. You'll hear it for household chores, school assignments, or work duties.

As indicated by the article la, tâche is a feminine noun. Its plural form is les tâches.

While related to le travail (work) or l'exercice (exercise), la tâche specifically denotes a defined, often smaller, piece of work within a larger project or routine. For instance, a big 'project' might consist of many 'tasks'.

You'll often encounter it in phrases like faire une tâche (to do a task), une tâche ménagère (a household chore), or une tâche difficile (a difficult task).

💡 * J'ai plusieurs tâches à accomplir avant la fin de la journée. (I have several tasks to complete before the end of the day.)

• Laver la vaisselle est une tâche quotidienne. (Washing the dishes is a daily chore.)
• Elle a reçu une tâche importante pour son projet. (She received an important assignment for her project.)
• Ces tâches sont faciles à faire. (These tasks are easy to do.)
• Il faut déléguer les tâches pour être plus efficace. (We need to delegate tasks to be more efficient.)

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

When you want to refer to 'work' or 'a job' in French in a casual, everyday way, the word you're most likely to hear and use is le boulot. It's the informal equivalent of le travail.

The word boulot actually comes from la boule, meaning 'ball.' In the 19th century, boulot referred to a specific task or job, often a difficult or monotonous one, perhaps evoking the idea of a heavy ball or a round of work.

You can use le boulot to talk about your job, your workplace, or the act of working itself. It's incredibly versatile and fits into many common expressions, making it a staple in spoken French.

While le travail is the standard, more formal term for 'work,' le boulot carries a slightly more personal, sometimes less serious, or even slightly complaining tone. It's the difference between saying 'my work' and 'my gig' or 'my daily grind' in English.

Use le boulot in informal conversations with friends, family, or colleagues you know well. It's perfect for discussing your job in a relaxed setting, but less suitable for formal business meetings or official documents where le travail would be preferred.

💡 * J'ai beaucoup de boulot cette semaine. (I have a lot of work this week.)

• Comment était ton boulot aujourd'hui ? (How was your work today?)
• Je dois aller au boulot. (I have to go to work.)
• C'est un bon boulot, bien payé. (It's a good job, well paid.)
• Elle cherche du boulot. (She's looking for a job.)

The 'labor' or 'manual work' – l'ouvrage

The French noun l'ouvrage (masculine) primarily refers to labor, manual work, or a piece of work that is often the result of skill and effort, especially in crafts or construction. It emphasizes the tangible outcome or the process of creating something.

While it can mean 'work' in a general sense, l'ouvrage often implies a more physical or crafted type of work, distinct from administrative or intellectual 'travail'. It can also refer to a literary work or artistic piece, highlighting the effort and creation involved.

Unlike le travail, which is a broader term for work (job, effort, labor in general), l'ouvrage often highlights the product or the specific, often manual, task. Think of it as 'the handiwork' or 'the craft' rather than just 'work'.

💡 * Cet ouvrage est de grande qualité. (This piece of work/craftsmanship is of high quality.)

• Les maçons ont terminé l'ouvrage avant l'hiver. (The masons finished the construction work before winter.)
• Elle a passé des heures sur son ouvrage de broderie. (She spent hours on her embroidery work.)
• C'est un ouvrage difficile qui demande beaucoup de patience. (It's a difficult task/piece of work that requires a lot of patience.)
• L'ouvrage d'un écrivain. (A writer's work/literary piece.)

The 'toil' or 'hard work' – la besogne

The 'toil' or 'hard work' – la besogne

As a feminine noun, la besogne translates to 'toil,' 'hard work,' or 'drudgery.' It specifically refers to demanding, often repetitive, and sometimes unpleasant tasks.

While not as common as le travail, la besogne carries a stronger connotation of effort and often implies a task that must be done, rather than work that is enjoyed. It can sound a bit old-fashioned or literary, though it's still understood.

You might encounter the expression faire la besogne, meaning 'to do the work' or 'to get the job done,' often implying a necessary but unglamorous task.

💡 *Il a accompli sa besogne avec courage. (He accomplished his toil with courage.)*C'est une besogne ingrate, mais quelqu'un doit la faire. (It's a thankless task, but someone has to do it.)*Après une longue journée de besogne, il rêvait de repos. (After a long day of hard work, he dreamed of rest.)*Il faut faire la besogne avant de penser au plaisir. (One must do the work before thinking of pleasure.)

The 'occupation' or 'position' – la fonction

The French noun la fonction is a versatile term primarily meaning 'occupation,' 'position,' 'role,' or 'duty.' It often carries a slightly formal or administrative tone, distinguishing it from more general words for 'job'.

Most commonly, la fonction refers to someone's specific job title or official duties within an organization, government, or public service. It denotes the role a person holds rather than the general type of work they do.

Beyond human roles, la fonction can also describe the purpose, operation, or role of an object, a system, or even an abstract concept. For instance, the 'function' of a machine part or the 'function' of a specific organ in the body.

While related to le métier (a trade or craft) and la profession (a broader occupation or field), la fonction emphasizes the specific responsibilities and position within a structure. Un métier is what you do (e.g., boulanger), une profession is your field (e.g., la médecine), and une fonction is your specific role (e.g., directeur des ventes).

💡 * Quelle est votre fonction au sein de l'entreprise ? (What is your position within the company?)* Il a été nommé à une nouvelle fonction importante. (He was appointed to a new important position.)* La fonction principale de ce logiciel est de gérer les bases de données. (The main function of this software is to manage databases.)* Comprendre la fonction de chaque composant est essentiel. (Understanding the function of each component is essential.)* Ses fonctions en tant que maire sont très exigeantes. (His duties as mayor are very demanding.)

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

Are there other ways to say “work” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “work” in French. But there are many other terms and expressions, from formal to informal, to regional ones, and even slang that might be specific to certain professions or age groups.

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

You might find some interesting synonyms or related expressions for travail through your research. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — especially professional contexts, interviews, or daily conversations — you may discover different ways to talk about work.

And if you’re looking for more ways to talk about different aspects of work, professions, or related vocabulary in French, the WordReference entry for travail is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary around the topic of work. Here’s a timeless quote from Voltaire to conclude: 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.)