French Job Titles
French job vocabulary is evolving. Traditionally, many professions had only masculine forms, but the language is actively feminizing titles to reflect modern reality. Whether you are networking in Paris or talking about careers in a French class, this guide gives you the essential job titles in both masculine and feminine forms, along with the grammar rules for talking about work.
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Common Professions — Professions Courantes
Like Spanish, French drops the article when stating your profession: "Je suis médecin" (I am a doctor). The table shows both masculine and feminine forms where they differ.
The feminization of French job titles is an ongoing evolution. Professeure, auteure, and ingénieure are now officially accepted. Quebec French has been using feminine forms for decades and is ahead of Metropolitan French in this regard.
More Professions
These include professions with various feminization patterns. Note how -eur/-euse and -teur/-trice follow consistent rules.
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Workplace Vocabulary
Complement your profession vocabulary with these essential workplace words:
- le bureau — office / desk
- l’entreprise (f) — company
- le travail — work / job
- le/la patron(ne) — boss
- le salaire — salary
- la réunion — meeting
Useful Phrases About Work
Here is how to talk about your career in French:
- Je suis médecin — I am a doctor
- Je travaille comme infirmière — I work as a nurse
- Je travaille dans un hôpital — I work in a hospital
- Qu’est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ? — What do you do for a living?
- Je cherche du travail — I am looking for work
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you use an article before professions in French?
No. Like Spanish, French drops the article when stating a profession with être: Je suis médecin (I am a doctor). However, if you add an adjective or modifier, the article returns: "Je suis un bon médecin."
What is the feminization debate in French professions?
Historically, many French professions had only a masculine form (un médecin, un professeur, un ingénieur). The Académie française now accepts feminine forms like une médecine or une professeure. Usage varies: France is adopting feminine forms faster than before, and Quebec has used them for decades.
How do you ask someone their job in French?
The standard question is Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ? (What do you do in life?) or more casually Tu fais quoi comme travail ? (What do you do for work?).
How do French feminine job titles work?
Common patterns: -eur becomes -euse (vendeur/vendeuse), -teur becomes -trice (acteur/actrice), -ier becomes -ière (infirmier/infirmière). Some words stay the same with just the article changing: un/une journaliste.
Is "docteur" only for medical doctors in French?
Docteur can refer to anyone with a doctorate degree, but in everyday conversation it usually means a medical doctor. For a PhD holder, the title is used in academic settings. A medical doctor is also called médecin when talking about the profession generally.