French Conversation · Level 111
59 words
French word
chômage
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃomaʒ/
Meaning
- masculine noununemployment
Example
Il est au chômage depuis mars.
He has been unemployed since March.
More examples
Elle reçoit des indemnités de chômage depuis six mois.
She has been receiving unemployment benefits for six months.
Core concept
A person is outside paid work while remaining available for a job.
Common phrases
être au chômage
be unemployed
chômage partiel
partial unemployment
indemnités de chômage
unemployment benefits
Similar words
chômeur: A person able and willing to work who has no job and is seeking one.
licenciement: The loss of a job because an employment contract has ended.
inactivité: A state of having no job and not seeking work.
précarité: A situation of unstable income or employment that makes life insecure.
Definition in French
Situation sociale désignant l'absence d'emploi chez une personne disponible pour travailler.
Word origin
Chômage is formed from the verb chômer, meaning to be idle or without work, with the noun-forming suffix -age.
Usage tips
- French uses the fixed expression être au chômage, with the masculine article le in general statements.