occupation

/ɔkyˈpajsjɔ̃/
nounIntermediate💡 job or profession
general

A person's job, role, or profession

Elle a changé d'occupation après 10 ans dans la même entreprise.

She changed occupations after 10 years at the same company.

💡

In French, 'occupation' can also refer to the act of occupying a place or time, but the most common meaning is a person's job.

general

The act of occupying a place or position

L'occupation militaire a duré plusieurs années.

The military occupation lasted several years.

💡

This meaning is less common in everyday French but appears in historical and political contexts.

Related Phrases

être en occupationphrase
to be occupied (with something)

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Occupation' is often used in formal contexts, such as on a CV or in official documents. For everyday conversation, 'métier' or 'travail' might be more common.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

Use 'occupation' in formal contexts, such as job applications or official forms. In casual conversation, 'métier' or 'travail' are more commonly used.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'occupatio', meaning 'taking possession of' or 'engagement in an activity'.

📝Usage Notes

In French, 'occupation' is often used interchangeably with 'métier' or 'profession', but it can also refer to the act of occupying a place or time. In English, 'occupation' is more commonly used to refer to a job or profession.

Word Breakdown

occu
to take possession of
root
+
-pation
action or state of
suffix
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais