French word

corvée

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔʁve/

Meaning

  • feminine nounchore

Example

J'ai une corvée à faire ce soir.

I have a chore to do tonight.

Illustration for corvée (chore)

More examples

Il considère toute tâche ménagère comme une corvée.

He considers every household task a chore.

Core concept

A small burden of work that must be got through, often a routine household task.

Common phrases

  • répartir les corvées

    divide up the chores

  • être chargé des corvées

    be responsible for the chores

Similar words

tâche: A job or task that needs to be done.
ménage: Routine household cleaning and tidying.

Definition in French

Obligation de faire une tâche peu agréable, souvent domestique ou routinière et de courte durée.

Word origin

The French noun developed from Old French corvee and Medieval Latin corrogata, which referred to a required service.

Usage tips

  • Corvée usually carries a mildly negative sense, so it suits complaints or light jokes more than neutral descriptions of work.

Other meanings

  • forced labornoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word