French Conversation · Level 108
60 words
French word
grève
Pronunciation
IPA/gʁɛv/
Meaning
- feminine nounstrike
Example
Les employés font grève aujourd'hui.
The employees are on strike today.
More examples
Le métro reste fermé à cause d'une grève.
The metro remains closed because of a strike.
Core concept
A whole workforce pauses its normal work as one coordinated act of pressure.
Common phrases
faire grève
go on strike
être en grève
be on strike
grève générale
general strike
Similar words
arrêt de travail: A period or act of stopping work and not carrying out one's duties.
manifestation: A public gathering in the streets to express a shared opinion.
Definition in French
Arrêt volontaire et collectif du travail pour faire pression sur un employeur ou les autorités.
Word origin
The strike meaning comes from the Paris Place de Grève, a public meeting place whose name became associated with workers gathering and stopping work collectively.
Usage tips
- Faire grève means to strike, while faire la grève is not the usual fixed expression for this meaning.