travail
/tʁa.vaj/Work, labor, or effort exerted to accomplish a task or achieve a goal.
Le travail est important pour la société.
Work is important for society.
Elle a beaucoup de travail à faire.
She has a lot of work to do.
In French, 'travail' can refer to both physical and intellectual labor.
A job or occupation.
Il cherche un travail dans le domaine de l'informatique.
He is looking for a job in the field of computer science.
This meaning is commonly used in everyday conversation.
A piece of work or a task.
J'ai terminé mon travail à temps.
I finished my work on time.
This meaning is often used to refer to a specific assignment or project.
Collocations
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Travail' is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, from describing a job to referring to a specific task or effort.
⚡Gold Rule
Gender Agreement
In French, 'travail' is a masculine noun, so it must agree with masculine adjectives and articles.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'travail', from 'travailer' (to work), from Vulgar Latin 'tripaliare' (to torture, torment), from Latin 'tripaliāre' (to torture on the tripalium, an instrument of torture). The original sense was 'torture, torment', later 'hard work', and finally 'work' in general.
📝Usage Notes
The word 'travail' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It can refer to physical labor, intellectual work, or a job. In some contexts, it can also imply effort or struggle.