French word

travail

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁavaj/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwork

Example

Je dois finir mon travail.

I have to finish my work.

Illustration for travail (work)

More examples

Je cherche du travail depuis deux mois.

I have been looking for work for two months.

Core concept

An ongoing task or effort that leaves something completed or achieved.

Common phrases

  • trouver un travail

    find a job

  • chercher du travail

    look for work

  • faire son travail

    do one's work

Similar words

emploi: Paid employment or the job in which someone works.
poste: An assigned work role within an organization.
tâche: A specific, limited task given to someone.
boulot: A casual term for routine work or a job.

Definition in French

travail désigne l'activité, rémunérée ou non, consistant à accomplir des tâches ou produire un résultat.

Word origin

The Old French noun travail originally referred to hardship or suffering and later developed the general sense of effort, labor, and work.

Usage tips

  • Un travail often means a particular task or piece of work, while du travail commonly refers to work in general or a quantity of work.

Other meanings

  • labornoun
  • jobnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word