trouver un travail
To get a job in French is to say trouver un travail.
The phrase refers to the process of finding and starting a new position of employment.
Which one should you use?
trouver un travail is a common and neutral way to express the idea. In more formal or administrative and professional contexts, you might use trouver un emploi. If you are in a casual setting, you can use the colloquial trouver un boulot, which is similar to saying 'find a gig' or 'find a job' in English.
Did you know?
- The word travail has a dark history, as it originally meant 'suffering' or 'pain' in Old French. It is derived from the Late Latin word for a 'torture device' made of three stakes.
- While trouver un travail means finding employment, the word travail is also the specific term used in French medical contexts to describe the active process of childbirth.
- The word emploi used in formal settings for 'job' comes from the verb employer, which literally means 'to put into use', treating a worker as a tool being utilized.
Examples in context
- J'espère décrocher un emploi dans le secteur de la finance.I hope to land a job in the finance sector.
- As-tu trouvé du boulot récemment ?Have you recently scored a job?
- Oui, je viens de me faire embaucher dans une entreprise de design.Yes, I just got hired at a design company.
- J'ai enfin trouvé un travail !I finally got a job!
- Je veux trouver un travail dans le marketing.I want to get a job in marketing.
- Il espère trouver un travail rapidement.He hopes to find a job quickly.
- Elle a enfin réussi à trouver un travail.She finally managed to get a job.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting at a café about their future plans.
- ChloéTu veux trouver un travail cette année ?Do you want to get a job this year?
- GabrielOui, je cherche activement depuis un mois.Yes, I have been actively looking for a month.
- ChloéBonne chance, Gabriel, j'espère que tu vas réussir.Good luck, Gabriel, I hope you will succeed.
- GabrielMerci, Chloé, c'est gentil de ta part.Thanks, Chloé, that is kind of you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries travail, trouver, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
