French work vocabulary: elle est avocate, les congés payés, and Cordialement
Les métiers · pick a job, then a person
Elle est avocate.el ay a-vo-KAT · she is a lawyer
Feminine: add -e: the final t is now heard.
Elleshetravailleworksdansinun cabinet.a law-firm
el tra-VYE don zun ka-bee-NAY · “She works at a law firm.”
Short answer: say your job with je suis + the job and no article: je suis infirmière (I’m a nurse). Most job titles have a feminine form: -eur → -euse or -rice, -ier → -ière, and an added -e; some, like médecin, stay the same. At work you meet des collègues, go to une réunion, and take des congés payés (paid holiday, five weeks by law). Emails end with Cordialement.
When to use an article
Il est médecin, but c’est un médecin
The article depends on the start of the sentence. After il est, elle est or je suis, the job is like an adjective: no article. After c’est, or with a describing word, it is a noun: use un or une. When you write at work in English too, see our guides to business emails and cover letters.
Il est … : no article
Ilheestismédecin.doctor
eel ay mayd-SAN · “He’s a doctor.”
Je suis … : no article
JeIsuisamétudiante.student
zhuh swee zay-tü-DYONT · “I’m a student.”
C’est un … : article
C’estit’sunamédecin.doctor
say tun mayd-SAN · “He’s a doctor (pointing someone out).”
With an adjective: article
Ellesheestisuneaexcellenteexcellentavocate.lawyer
el ay tün ek-say-LONT a-vo-KAT · “She’s an excellent lawyer.”
At the office
La réunion, le télétravail, les RTT
The everyday vocabulary of a French workplace, including a few terms specific to French working life. Tap a word to hear it.
A professional email
Madame, Monsieur… Cordialement
French emails follow a fixed shape. The left column is the email; the right explains each line.
Objet : Demande de rendez-vous
Madame, Monsieur,Je me permets de vous écrire au sujet de…Pourriez-vous m’indiquer vos disponibilités pour un rendez-vous ?Je vous remercie par avance.Cordialement, Emma Smith
GreetingTo someone you don’t know. If you know the name: Madame Dupont,
Opening“I take the liberty of writing to you about…”: a polite opener.
The request“Could you let me know when you’re available for a meeting?” Pourriez-vous is the polite conditional.
Thanks“Thank you in advance.”
Sign-offThe standard sign-off. More formal: Bien cordialement; very formal letters use a long fixed formula.
Job interview questions
Parlez-moi de vous
Interviews use vous throughout. These are the questions you can expect, with a natural way to begin each answer.
Recruteur
Parlez-moispeak-to-mede vous.about you
par-lay MWA duh VOO · “Tell me about yourself.”
Vous
J’aiI-havecinq ansfive yearsd’expérienceof-experiencedans le marketing.in marketing
zhay san KON dek-spay-RYONSS don luh mar-kuh-TEENG · “I have five years’ experience in marketing.”
Recruteur
Pourquoiwhyvoulez-vouswant-youce poste ?this job
poor-KWA voo-lay VOO suh POST · “Why do you want this job?”
Vous
JeIsouhaitewishévoluerto-progressdans une entreprisein a companyinternationale.international
zhuh SWET ay-vo-lü-AY don zün on-truh-PREEZ an-tair-na-syo-NAL · “I want to progress in an international company.”