{"id":109,"date":"2026-09-30T18:33:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T17:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leweb2ks.dev\/vitrine-vocadial\/en\/resources\/jobs-in-french\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T18:33:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T17:33:34","slug":"jobs-in-french","status":"publish","type":"vd_ressource","link":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/resources\/jobs-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"Jobs in French: vocabulary list, feminine forms and a classroom routine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jobs in French with their feminine form<\/h2>\n\n

In the pronunciation column, capitals mark the syllable to lean on slightly (French stress is light and falls on the last syllable). (n) marks a nasal vowel: air goes through the nose and the n itself is not pronounced. “zh” is the s in “measure”, “uh” is the short vowel in “the”, and “\u00fc” is “ee” said with rounded lips.<\/p>\n\n

One form, two articles<\/h3>\n\n
French<\/th>English<\/th>Say it like<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
le \/ la m\u00e9decin<\/td>doctor<\/td>mayd-SA(N)<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la journaliste<\/td>journalist<\/td>zhoor-na-LEEST<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la dentiste<\/td>dentist<\/td>dah(n)-TEEST<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire<\/td>vet<\/td>vay-tay-ree-NAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la secr\u00e9taire<\/td>secretary<\/td>suh-kray-TAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la comptable<\/td>accountant<\/td>ko(n)-TA-bluh<\/td><\/tr>
le \/ la pilote<\/td>pilot<\/td>pee-LOT<\/td><\/tr>
l’architecte (m.\/f.)<\/td>architect<\/td>lar-shee-TEKT<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Masculine and feminine forms<\/h3>\n\n
French<\/th>English<\/th>Say it like<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
le professeur \/ la professeure<\/td>teacher<\/td>pro-fe-SUR<\/td><\/tr>
l’infirmier \/ l’infirmi\u00e8re<\/td>nurse<\/td>la(n)-feer-MYAY \/ la(n)-feer-MYAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le policier \/ la polici\u00e8re<\/td>police officer<\/td>po-lee-SYAY \/ po-lee-SYAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le pompier \/ la pompi\u00e8re<\/td>firefighter<\/td>po(n)-PYAY \/ po(n)-PYAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le boulanger \/ la boulang\u00e8re<\/td>baker<\/td>boo-lah(n)-ZHAY \/ boo-lah(n)-ZHAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le cuisinier \/ la cuisini\u00e8re<\/td>cook<\/td>kwee-zee-NYAY \/ kwee-zee-NYAIR<\/td><\/tr>
le vendeur \/ la vendeuse<\/td>shop assistant<\/td>vah(n)-DUR \/ vah(n)-DUHZ<\/td><\/tr>
le coiffeur \/ la coiffeuse<\/td>hairdresser<\/td>kwa-FUR \/ kwa-FUHZ<\/td><\/tr>
le serveur \/ la serveuse<\/td>waiter \/ waitress<\/td>ser-VUR \/ ser-VUHZ<\/td><\/tr>
le chanteur \/ la chanteuse<\/td>singer<\/td>shah(n)-TUR \/ shah(n)-TUHZ<\/td><\/tr>
l’acteur \/ l’actrice<\/td>actor \/ actress<\/td>lak-TUR \/ lak-TREESS<\/td><\/tr>
l’agriculteur \/ l’agricultrice<\/td>farmer<\/td>la-gree-k\u00fcl-TUR \/ -TREESS<\/td><\/tr>
le facteur \/ la factrice<\/td>postman \/ postwoman<\/td>fak-TUR \/ fak-TREESS<\/td><\/tr>
l’ing\u00e9nieur \/ l’ing\u00e9nieure<\/td>engineer<\/td>la(n)-zhay-NYUR<\/td><\/tr>
le m\u00e9canicien \/ la m\u00e9canicienne<\/td>mechanic<\/td>may-ka-nee-SYA(N) \/ may-ka-nee-SYEN<\/td><\/tr>
le pharmacien \/ la pharmacienne<\/td>pharmacist<\/td>far-ma-SYA(N) \/ far-ma-SYEN<\/td><\/tr>
l’avocat \/ l’avocate<\/td>lawyer<\/td>la-vo-KA \/ la-vo-KAT<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

How the feminine works<\/h2>\n\n

In 2019 the Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise accepted the feminisation of job titles, which Quebec, Belgium and Switzerland had adopted years before. Today the feminine form is the normal choice in France too.<\/p>\n\n

  1. -e at the end: only the article changes.<\/strong> le journaliste<\/span>, la journaliste<\/span>. La m\u00e9decin<\/span> follows the same pattern, although une femme m\u00e9decin<\/span> is still heard.<\/li>
  2. -ier and -er become -i\u00e8re and -\u00e8re.<\/strong> l’infirmier<\/span>, l’infirmi\u00e8re<\/span>; le boulanger<\/span>, la boulang\u00e8re<\/span>. You now hear the r: MYAY becomes MYAIR. La pompi\u00e8re<\/span> is used alongside the older une femme pompier<\/span>.<\/li>
  3. -eur becomes -euse when there is a related verb.<\/strong> vendre<\/span> gives la vendeuse<\/span>, chanter<\/span> gives la chanteuse<\/span>.<\/li>
  4. -teur often becomes -trice.<\/strong> l’acteur<\/span>, l’actrice<\/span>; le directeur<\/span>, la directrice<\/span>.<\/li>
  5. Other -eur words add -e.<\/strong> la professeure<\/span>, l’ing\u00e9nieure<\/span>: the spelling changes, the sound does not.<\/li>
  6. -ien doubles the n.<\/strong> le m\u00e9canicien<\/span>, la m\u00e9canicienne<\/span>. The nasal disappears: SYA(N) becomes SYEN.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

    Some feminines have a second meaning. La cuisini\u00e8re<\/span> is a cook, and also a cooker. La chef<\/span> and, especially in Switzerland, la cheffe<\/span> are both used for a woman in charge.<\/p>\n\n

    Talking about jobs<\/h2>\n\n

    The key rule for English speakers: after je suis<\/span>, il est<\/span> or elle est<\/span>, a job takes no article. “She’s a nurse” is Elle est infirmi\u00e8re<\/span>. With c’est<\/span>, it needs one: C’est une infirmi\u00e8re.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la vie ?<\/span>What do you do?<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Ma m\u00e8re est pharmacienne.<\/span>My mum is a pharmacist.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Mon p\u00e8re travaille comme serveur dans un restaurant.<\/span>My dad works as a waiter in a restaurant.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    C’est un acteur tr\u00e8s c\u00e9l\u00e8bre.<\/span>He’s a very famous actor.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Plus tard, je voudrais \u00eatre v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire parce que j’adore les animaux.<\/span>Later on, I’d like to be a vet because I love animals.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Quand je serai grande, je serai ing\u00e9nieure.<\/span>When I grow up, I’ll be an engineer.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Places of work: dans un bureau<\/span>, dans un magasin<\/span>, dans un h\u00f4pital<\/span>, \u00e0 l’ext\u00e9rieur<\/span> (outdoors), \u00e0 la maison<\/span>. Someone out of work is au ch\u00f4mage<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

    Idioms and sayings<\/h2>\n\n
    French<\/th>Literally<\/th>Meaning<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    c’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron<\/td>it’s by forging that you become a blacksmith<\/td>practice makes perfect<\/td><\/tr>
    il n’y a pas de sot m\u00e9tier<\/td>there is no stupid job<\/td>every job deserves respect<\/td><\/tr>
    chacun son m\u00e9tier, les vaches seront bien gard\u00e9es<\/td>each to his trade, the cows will be well looked after<\/td>leave it to the experts<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00eatre du m\u00e9tier<\/td>to be of the trade<\/td>to know the job from the inside<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

    C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron<\/span> makes a good classroom motto for speaking practice.<\/p>\n\n

    Typical mistakes of English-speaking learners<\/h2>\n\n
    • “Elle est une infirmi\u00e8re”:<\/strong> no article after elle est<\/span>: Elle est infirmi\u00e8re<\/span>, or C’est une infirmi\u00e8re.<\/span><\/li>
    • Masculine forms for women:<\/strong> Ma tante est vendeur<\/span> should be vendeuse<\/span>.<\/li>
    • Physicien is not physician:<\/strong> it means physicist. A doctor is un m\u00e9decin<\/span>.<\/li>
    • Libraire is not librarian:<\/strong> it means bookseller. A librarian is un biblioth\u00e9caire<\/span>.<\/li>
    • Sounding silent letters:<\/strong> the t of avocat<\/span>, the p of comptable<\/span>, the r of boulanger<\/span> and policier<\/span>.<\/li>
    • M\u00e9decin said like “medicine”:<\/strong> it has two syllables, mayd-SA(N).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n

      In class: jobs as a word of the day<\/h2>\n\n

      Jobs lead naturally to family, ambitions and the future tense, and every word comes in two forms.<\/p>\n\n

      1. Show the picture (a nurse) and the English word: “nurse”.<\/li>
      2. Ask Comment dit-on “nurse” en fran\u00e7ais ?<\/span> Pupils write their guess on mini whiteboards; accept either form.<\/li>
      3. Reveal l’infirmier \/ l’infirmi\u00e8re<\/span> with its pronunciation. The class repeats both forms, listening for the r in the feminine.<\/li>
      4. Show the example sentence: Ma tante est infirmi\u00e8re. Elle travaille la nuit dans un h\u00f4pital.<\/span><\/li>
      5. Give the reuse task: each pupil says what someone they know does, or wants to do, without the article: Mon cousin veut \u00eatre policier.<\/span><\/li>
      6. Recall yesterday’s job and ask for the other form: Et au f\u00e9minin ?<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n

        That is exactly what a daily routine does: one job at a time, in both forms, used in a real sentence straight away.<\/p>\n\n

        Guessing games<\/h3>\n\n

        Qui suis-je ?<\/span> riddles: Je commence tr\u00e8s t\u00f4t le matin et je fais du pain. Qui suis-je ?<\/span> (le boulanger \/ la boulang\u00e8re<\/span>). Pupils then write their own riddle with je travaille<\/span>, je porte<\/span> and j’aide<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n

        • A1<\/b>The job with both forms: le facteur, la factrice<\/span><\/li>
        • A2<\/b>Family and places of work: Mon p\u00e8re est cuisinier. Il travaille dans un restaurant.<\/span><\/li>
        • B1<\/b>Future plans and reasons: Plus tard, j’aimerais devenir avocate parce que je veux d\u00e9fendre les gens.<\/span><\/li>
        • B2<\/b>Opinions on work: Il faut qu’un m\u00e9tier soit utile, m\u00eame s’il est moins bien pay\u00e9.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

          At KS2, a picture and both forms are enough. At KS3, insist on the missing article after \u00eatre<\/span> and on feminine endings. At GCSE, jobs return with future plans: move on to the conditional, the future tense and reasons.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Jobs in French with their masculine and feminine forms, how to say them, the no-article rule after \u00eatre and a word of the day routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"menu_order":50,"template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Jobs in French: List, Feminine Forms, \u00catre | VocaDial","_seopress_titles_desc":"Jobs in French with masculine and feminine forms, pronunciation, why it is elle est infirmi\u00e8re with no article, false friends and a daily word routine.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_vd_topic":"metiers","_vd_target":"fr","_vd_module":"palabra","_vd_level":"A1","_vd_minutes":"7","_vd_card_word":"l'infirmi\u00e8re\u2026","_vd_answer":"Common jobs in French include le professeur \/ la professeure<\/span> (teacher), le m\u00e9decin \/ la m\u00e9decin<\/span> (doctor), l'infirmier \/ l'infirmi\u00e8re<\/span> (nurse), le vendeur \/ la vendeuse<\/span> (shop assistant), le policier \/ la polici\u00e8re<\/span> (police officer) and l'agriculteur \/ l'agricultrice<\/span> (farmer). After \u00eatre<\/span>, a job takes no article: Elle est infirmi\u00e8re<\/span>, but C'est une infirmi\u00e8re<\/span>.","_vd_faq":"[{\"q\":\"Why is it \\\"il est m\u00e9decin\\\" and not \\\"il est un m\u00e9decin\\\"?\",\"a\":\"After il est<\\\/span>, elle est<\\\/span> or je suis<\\\/span>, a job works like an adjective and takes no article: Il est m\u00e9decin.<\\\/span> With c'est<\\\/span>, the article is needed: C'est un m\u00e9decin.<\\\/span>\"},{\"q\":\"Is it la professeure or la professeur?\",\"a\":\"La professeure<\\\/span> is now widely used in France, including in official texts, as it has long been in Quebec, Belgium and Switzerland. La professeur<\\\/span> and le professeur<\\\/span> for a woman are still seen. In speech, la prof<\\\/span> settles the question.\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"What do you do?\\\" in French?\",\"a\":\"Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ?<\\\/span> (or tu fais<\\\/span> informally). Answer with Je suis<\\\/span> plus the job, no article: Je suis comptable.<\\\/span>\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"What do you want to be when you grow up?\\\" in French?\",\"a\":\"Qu'est-ce que tu veux faire plus tard ?<\\\/span> or Qu'est-ce que tu veux faire quand tu seras grand(e) ?<\\\/span> Answer: Je voudrais \u00eatre v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire.<\\\/span>\"},{\"q\":\"What is the feminine of auteur in French?\",\"a\":\"Both l'autrice<\\\/span> and l'auteure<\\\/span> are used. Autrice<\\\/span> follows the old -teur \\\/ -trice pattern and is increasingly common in France; auteure<\\\/span> is the usual form in Quebec.\"}]","_vd_key":"metiers-fr","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-109","vd_ressource","type-vd_ressource","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/vd_ressource"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/109\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}