grève
/ɡʁɛv/noun★Intermediate
formal
A work stoppage by employees to protest working conditions or demand concessions from employers.
La grève générale a paralysé la ville pendant trois jours.
The general strike paralyzed the city for three days.
💡
In French, a 'grève' is a collective action by workers to pressure employers or the government.
Collocations
faire grèveto go on strikegrève généralegeneral strikegrève de la faimhunger strike
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
être en grèvephrase
to be on strike
appeler à la grèvephrase
to call for a strike
💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
Always check the context to distinguish between the labor and geographical meanings of 'grève'.
⚡Gold Rule
Primary Meaning
In most cases, 'grève' refers to a labor strike, not a beach.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'greve', meaning 'shoreline' (originally referring to workers gathering on the shore to demand better conditions).
📝Usage Notes
In French, 'grève' can also refer to a beach or shoreline, but the labor-related meaning is far more common.
Word Breakdown
grève
strike or shoreline
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais