travail

/tʁa.vaj/
nounBeginner
formal

Work, labor, or effort exerted to achieve a result

Le travail est essentiel pour la réussite.

Work is essential for success.

Il a fait un travail remarquable.

He did remarkable work.

💡

Can refer to physical or intellectual effort.

formal

A job or occupation

Elle cherche un travail dans le domaine médical.

She is looking for a job in the medical field.

💡

Often used in the context of employment.

Collocations

travail acharnéhard worktravail d'équipeteamworktravail de nuitnight work

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

mettre au travailphrase
to put to work
travail de forcephrase
forced labor

💡Pro Tip

Gender Note

'Travail' is a masculine noun, but it can be used with feminine adjectives in some contexts, such as 'une bonne travail' (good work).

Gold Rule

Common Usage

In everyday French, 'travail' is often used to refer to both the concept of work and a specific job.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'travail', from 'travailer' (to work), from Vulgar Latin 'tripaliare' (to torture, torment), from 'tripalium' (a three-staked instrument of torture).

📝Usage Notes

Can be used both as a general concept of work and as a specific job or task.

Word Breakdown

travail
work or labor
root
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais