How to Say “What Is Your Profession?” in French

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Quelle est votre profession ?
The English phrase "what is your profession?" can be translated into French as Quelle est votre profession ?
This phrase is a formal way to ask someone about their job. While direct, in many social settings, French speakers may prefer the more natural expression Que faites-vous dans la vie ?, which literally translates to "What do you do in life?"

What does it mean word for word?

In the phrase Quelle est votre profession ?, the word quelle literally means "which", though it is used here to mean "what".

Which one should you use?

The choice of words and possessive adjectives changes based on your relationship with the person. Use ton métier instead of votre profession when speaking to a peer, a child or someone you know well, as ton is the informal possessive adjective. For a more natural feel in formal or semi-formal contexts, you might use métier (job or trade) instead of the more formal profession. For example, you can use Quel est votre métier ? or the even more polite Pouvez-vous me dire quel est votre métier ? (Can you tell me what your profession is?). In very casual settings, you might hear C'est quoi ton boulot ? or Quel est ton job ?

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Quelle est votre profession ? and Pouvez-vous me dire quel est votre métier ? are formal ways to inquire about an occupation. Use the informal Quel est ton métier ?, C'est quoi ton boulot ? or Quel est ton job ? when speaking with people you know well or in casual environments.

How does it change in a sentence?

The adjective quelle must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Since profession is a feminine singular noun, the feminine singular form quelle is used.

Did you know?

  • The casual term boulot for 'job' is a slang word that likely comes from the word for 'ball of wool', reflecting the repetitive and tedious nature of manual labor.
  • The word est is one of only two words in the entire French language that keeps a silent internal 's' from its Latin root, the other being Jésus-Christ. Normally, this sound disappeared in modern French spelling.
  • The word métier originally referred specifically to a craft or trade learned through an apprenticeship. Today, it is used broadly for any job, but it still carries a stronger connotation of skill and expertise than profession.

Examples in context

  • Excusez-moi, quelle est votre profession ?
    Excuse me, what is your profession?
  • Puis-je vous demander quelle est votre profession ?
    May I ask you what your profession is?

Example conversation

Léa and Lucas are meeting for the first time at a formal networking event.

  1. Léa

    Enchantée de vous rencontrer, Lucas. Quelle est votre profession ?
    Nice to meet you, Lucas. What is your profession?
  2. Lucas

    Je suis ingénieur en informatique.
    I am a computer engineer.
  3. Léa

    C'est un domaine très intéressant.
    That is a very interesting field.
  4. Lucas

    Merci, c'est un travail passionnant.
    Thank you, it is an exciting job.

Sources

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Bonnie Caitlin
Bonnie CaitlinHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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