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30 French Words for the Workplace

By Frederic Bibard Published:

2 min read

Learn 30 Essential Work-Related Words in French. Useful for anyone planning to work in a French-speaking country.

Difficulty: Intermediate

You may have the chance to work in a French-speaking environment, or perhaps it might simply come in handy for your present job. This small list of work-related words won’t make you fluent in business French but it will provide you with a useful grounding in French workplace communication.

  • travaillerto work
  • bosserto work (informal); to work hard or slog away in context
  • le travailwork
  • le boulotjob (casual)
  • le métiertrade, occupation, job
  • la tâchetask
  • la pause cafécoffee break
  • le chômageunemployment
  • l’emploiemployment
  • le congéholiday, leave
  • le salariéemployee
  • le fonctionnairecivil servant
  • le patronboss
  • le collèguecolleague
  • le bureauoffice
  • le contratcontract
  • la réunionmeeting
  • la formationtraining
  • embaucherto hire
  • la gestionmanagement
  • terminerto finish
  • le dossierfile
  • l’entretieninterview
  • les ragotsgossip
  • les 35 heuresthe 35-hour week
  • bavarderto chat
  • la grèvestrike
  • la manifestationdemonstration
  • les syndicatstrade unions
  • le treizième moisthirteenth-month pay (an extra month of salary; payment timing varies)
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