Talking about jobs and occupations in French is a part of introducing yourself while talking to someone, it might be in order to talk about careers as well as understanding conversations where the topic is related to professions.
Note that the jobs listed below are in masculine form.
Jobs And Occupations In French
English | French |
Accountant | Comptable |
Actor/Actress | Acteur / Actrice |
Architect | Architecte |
Athlete | Athlète |
Author | Auteur |
Baker | Boulanger |
Barber | Coiffeur |
Boxer | Boxeur |
Broker | Broker |
Builder | Constructeur |
Businessman | Homme d’affaires |
Butcher | Boucher |
Cameraman | Caméraman |
Carpenter | Menuisier |
Cashier | Caissière |
Catholic nun | Nonne catholique |
Chambermaid | Femme de chambre |
Chef | Chef |
Clown | Clown |
Coach | Coach |
Construction worker | Ouvrier du bâtiment |
Cook | Cuisiner |
Craftsman | Artisan |
Dentist | Dentiste |
Detective | Détective |
Director | Directeur |
Diver | Plongeur |
Doctor | Médecin |
Doorman | Portier |
Driver | Chauffeur |
Editor | Editeur |
Electrician | Électricien |
Employee | Employé |
Engineer | Ingénieur |
Farmer | Agriculteur |
Fire fighter | Pompier |
Fisherman | Pêcheur |
Flight attendant | agent de bord |
Footballer | Footballeur |
Forest ranger | Garde forestier |
Gardener | Jardinier |
Gendarme | Gendarme |
Grocer | Épicier |
Guardian | Gardien |
Hairdresser | Coiffeur |
Housekeeper | femme de ménage |
Housewife | Femme au foyer |
Imam | Imam |
Inspector | Inspecteur |
Job | Travail |
Journalist | Journaliste |
Judge | Juge |
Lawyer | Avocat |
Librarian | Bibliothécaire |
Lifeguard | Maître nageur |
Magician | Magicien |
Mechanic | Mécanicien |
Model | Modèle |
Monk | Moine |
Musician | Musicien |
Nurse | Infirmier |
Occupation | Occupation |
Optician | Opticien |
Painter | Peintre |
Paramedic | Paramédical |
Pharmacist | Pharmacien |
Photographer | Photographe |
Pilot | Pilote |
Pirate | Pirate |
Plumber | Plombier |
Poet | Poète |
Police officer | Policier |
Policeman | Policier |
Politician | politicien |
Postman | Facteur |
President | Président |
Prime minister | Premier ministre |
Professor | Professeur |
Psychologist | Psychologue |
Real estate agent | Agent immobilier |
Receptionist | Réceptionniste |
Repairman | Réparateur |
Reporter | Reporteur |
Researcher | Chercheur |
Sailor | Marin |
Sales representative | Représentant commercial |
Salesman | Vendeur |
Scientist | Scientifique |
Secretary | Secrétaire |
Shoemaker | Cordonnier |
Singer | Chanteur |
Soldier | Soldat |
Student | Étudiant |
Surgeon | Chirurgien |
Tailor | Tailleur |
Taxi driver | Chauffeur de taxi |
Teacher (primary school) | Enseignant |
Technician | Technicien |
Train conductor | conducteur de train |
Translator | Traducteur |
Travel agent | Agent de voyage |
Veterinarian (vet) | Vétérinaire |
Waiter/Waitress | Serveur/serveuse |
Welder | Soudeur |
Writer | Écrivain |
Note: you can practice what you’ve learned here, and learn how to pronounce each of the words in our Memrise course here, don’t know how to use the platform or sign up? we’ve got you covered in this easy-to-follow tutorial here.
That was our list of 100 jobs and occupations in French with audio, comment your job below in the comments!
French Jobs and Occupations Review
Short Answer Quiz
- What is the French word for “nurse”? Is this word masculine or feminine?
- Translate the following phrase to French: “He is a doctor.”
- What is the French word for “occupation”? How is this word similar to the English word?
- Provide the French translations for both a male and female “teacher”.
- You want to tell someone you are a writer in French. What would you say?
- What is the French word for “construction worker”? Break down the word and explain its components.
- Translate the following phrase to French: “She is a lawyer.”
- What is the French word for “accountant”? How does the pronunciation differ from the English word?
- You meet someone who says they are a “boulanger”. What is their profession?
- List three jobs from the source material that are the same in French and English.
Answer Key
- The French word for “nurse” is “infirmier”. This word is in its masculine form.
- “Il est médecin.”
- The French word for “occupation” is “occupation”. The words are identical, making it a cognate.
- Male teacher: “Enseignant”, Female teacher: “Enseignante”
- “Je suis écrivain” (masculine) or “Je suis écrivaine” (feminine)
- “Ouvrier du bâtiment” – “Ouvrier” means worker, “du” means “of the”, and “bâtiment” means building.
- “Elle est avocate.”
- The French word for “accountant” is “comptable”. The pronunciation differs in the ending, with the French pronunciation being “com-tah-bluh”.
- A “boulanger” is a baker.
- Various answers possible, examples include: Pilot, Doctor, Actor/Actress.
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Oualid Cheddadi is a language enthusiast who created Lingualid with the mission to inspire independent language learners worldwide, regardless of the language they are learning. The name “Lingualid” is derived from the Portuguese word for “language,” “língua,” and the last three letters of Oualid’s name, “Lid.”