je vais au travail
In French, the phrase 'I am going to work' is expressed as je vais au travail.
This phrase is used to say that you are leaving for or traveling to your place of employment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I go to the work'. The word au is a contraction of à (to) and le (the), which is required because travail is a masculine noun.
Which one should you use?
While je vais au travail focuses on the destination (the workplace), je vais travailler focuses on the action of working.
How does it change in a sentence?
The French present tense je vais is used to express both the habitual 'I go' and the continuous 'I am going'.
Did you know?
- The word travail has its roots in a word for a torture device made of three stakes. It evolved from a term meaning 'suffering' or 'pain' to describe the act of working.
- The English word 'travel' is a linguistic relative of travail, reflecting an era when long journeys were considered grueling and painful.
- French speakers use je vais au travail for the destination, but the verb travailler can also describe the intense effort of a woman in childbirth.
Examples in context
- Je vais travailler jusqu'à cinq heuresI am going to work until five o'clock
- Je vais au travail maintenant.I am going to work now.
- Dépêche-toi, je vais au travail !Hurry up, I am going to work!
- Je vais au travail en bus.I am going to work by bus.
Example conversation
Gabriel is leaving the house in the morning to meet Léa.
- GabrielSalut Léa, je vais au travail.Hi Léa, I am going to work.
- LéaBon courage pour ta journée !Good luck with your day!
- GabrielMerci, on se voit ce soir.Thanks, see you this evening.
- LéaD'accord, bonne route, Gabriel.Okay, have a safe trip, Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, travail, vais, CC BY-SA 4.0.
