What does it mean word for word?
The phrase vous travaillez ici ? is composed of the subject vous (you), the conjugated verb travaillez (work) and the adverb ici (here).
Which one should you use?
In spoken French, you can turn the statement Vous travaillez ici into a question simply by raising your pitch at the end.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be formal, you can use Est-ce que vous travaillez ici? (Adding Est-ce que to the beginning of the sentence is a standard way to signal a question in a more structured, formal manner), Travaillez-vous ici? or Êtes-vous employé(e) ici? For informal settings, you can use Tu travailles ici? or the more colloquial and informal T'es employé(e) ici?
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular informal form uses the pronoun tu instead of vous, resulting in tu travailles ici ?
Did you know?
- In a professional French environment, you might be asked Vous êtes de la maison ?, which literally means 'Are you of the house?', to ask if you work there.
- In French, the word ici evolved from the Late Latin phrase ecce hīc, which literally means 'behold here'.
- French distinguishes between a salarié and a travailleur, where the former specifically denotes a paid employee while the latter refers to anyone performing work.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, travaillez-vous ici?Hello, do you work here?
- Pardon, êtes-vous employé(e) ici?Excuse me, are you employed here?
- Excusez-moi, est-ce que vous travaillez ici?Excuse me, do you work here?
- Salut! Tu travailles ici?Hi! Do you work here?
- Dis-moi, t'es employé(e) ici?Tell me, are you employed here?
- Est-ce que vous travaillez ici ?Do you work here?
Example conversation
Hugo is asking Léa for help in a small boutique.
- HugoPardon, vous travaillez ici ?Excuse me, do you work here?
- LéaOui, je travaille dans ce magasin.Yes, I work in this store.
- HugoD'accord, je cherche un cadeau.Okay, I am looking for a gift.
- LéaJe peux vous aider.I can help you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ici, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
