In 15 Seconds
- Used for assigning tasks or providing employment to someone.
- Common in offices, schools, and household chore discussions.
- Follow with 'à' to specify who receives the task.
Meaning
It simply means giving someone a task to complete or providing them with a job. It’s the phrase you use when a boss assigns a project or a teacher hands out an assignment.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a classroom setting
Le professeur donne un travail difficile aux élèves.
The teacher gives a difficult task to the students.
In a business meeting
Je vais vous donner un travail de recherche pour lundi.
I am going to give you a research task for Monday.
Texting a friend about chores
Ma mère m'a encore donné un travail à faire dans le jardin.
My mom gave me another job to do in the garden.
Cultural Background
The 35-hour work week is a major cultural touchstone. When someone 'donne du travail,' they must respect these legal limits. Quebecers often use 'job' (feminine: une job) instead of 'travail' in casual conversation. In French-speaking West Africa, 'donner un travail' can sometimes refer to spiritual or traditional tasks assigned by a marabout. Belgian French is very similar to Hexagonal French here, but the work culture may emphasize 'le blocus' (study period) where teachers give a lot of work.
Use with 'à'
Always remember to say 'donner un travail À quelqu'un'.
Don't say 'donner un job' in France
While understood, 'job' is more common in Quebec or very informal French. Stick to 'travail' or 'emploi' in France.
In 15 Seconds
- Used for assigning tasks or providing employment to someone.
- Common in offices, schools, and household chore discussions.
- Follow with 'à' to specify who receives the task.
What It Means
Donner un travail is a straightforward way to say someone is being assigned a task. In French, travail covers everything from a small chore to a lifelong career. When you use this phrase, you are describing the act of handing over a responsibility. It’s like passing a baton in a relay race. You have the task, and now someone else does. It is functional, clear, and very common in daily life.
How To Use It
You usually follow the verb donner with the person receiving the work using the preposition à. For example, Je donne un travail à mon fils. You can also use it more generally to mean 'providing employment'. If a company hires you, they donnent un travail to you. Just remember that travail is masculine. So, it is always un travail or le travail. If you want to sound more natural, you might say donner du travail (giving some work), which sounds less like a single specific task and more like a general load of things to do.
When To Use It
Use this in professional settings when a manager assigns a project. It’s perfect for the classroom when a teacher gives homework. You can even use it at home. If your partner is bored, you might say, "I can give you some work!" Use it when talking about the economy too. Politicians love to talk about donner un travail to every citizen. It’s a very versatile 'utility' phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this if you are talking about giving a speech or a presentation. For that, use faire une présentation. Also, avoid it if the 'work' is an artistic piece, like a painting. In that case, use œuvre. If you are at a party and want to say you are 'working the room,' this phrase will definitely get you some weird looks. It is strictly about tasks, chores, or employment.
Cultural Background
In France, work is a serious topic, but so is leisure. The French have a famous 35-hour work week. When someone donne un travail, there is an unspoken understanding of boundaries. There is even a 'right to disconnect' law. This means your boss shouldn't donner un travail via email at 9 PM on a Sunday. Work is a duty, but your personal time is sacred. This phrase carries that weight of responsibility.
Common Variations
If you want to sound more casual with friends, use donner du boulot. Boulot is the common slang for work. You’ll hear people say, "Ça me donne pas mal de boulot !" (That gives me quite a bit of work!). Another variation is donner une tâche, which is more specific to a single, small task. If you are talking about a big, difficult job, you might hear donner du pain sur la planche, which literally means having bread on the cutting board!
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for all A1 learners. Just remember that 'travail' becomes 'travaux' in the plural, though you rarely say 'donner des travaux' for tasks—usually 'donner du travail' is preferred for multiple tasks.
Use with 'à'
Always remember to say 'donner un travail À quelqu'un'.
Don't say 'donner un job' in France
While understood, 'job' is more common in Quebec or very informal French. Stick to 'travail' or 'emploi' in France.
The 'du' vs 'un' trick
If you can count it (1 task), use 'un'. If you can't count it (busy-ness), use 'du'.
Examples
6Le professeur donne un travail difficile aux élèves.
The teacher gives a difficult task to the students.
Here it refers to a school assignment or project.
Je vais vous donner un travail de recherche pour lundi.
I am going to give you a research task for Monday.
Standard professional usage for delegating a task.
Ma mère m'a encore donné un travail à faire dans le jardin.
My mom gave me another job to do in the garden.
Casual use for household chores.
Cette nouvelle usine va donner un travail à beaucoup de gens.
This new factory is going to give a job to many people.
Used here in the sense of providing employment.
Arrête de me donner un travail chaque fois que je prends un café !
Stop giving me a job every time I grab a coffee!
Lighthearted way to complain about being busy.
Il m'a donné un travail quand j'étais au chômage.
He gave me a job when I was unemployed.
Emotional context regarding life-changing help.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'donner'.
Le patron ___ un travail à l'employé.
The subject 'Le patron' is third-person singular, so the verb must be 'donne'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
In French, the indirect object pronoun 'te' comes before the verb.
Complete the dialogue.
Professeur: 'Je vais vous ___ un travail pour demain.'
In a classroom context, a teacher 'gives' (donne) work.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'Donner un boulot' to its register.
'Boulot' is a casual synonym for 'travail'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Work Given
Education
- • Devoirs
- • Exercices
- • Projets
Professional
- • Missions
- • Tâches
- • Postes
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLe patron ___ un travail à l'employé.
The subject 'Le patron' is third-person singular, so the verb must be 'donne'.
Choose the correct sentence:
In French, the indirect object pronoun 'te' comes before the verb.
Professeur: 'Je vais vous ___ un travail pour demain.'
In a classroom context, a teacher 'gives' (donne) work.
Match 'Donner un boulot' to its register.
'Boulot' is a casual synonym for 'travail'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is very common in both formal and informal contexts to mean providing someone with a job.
It is masculine: {le|m} travail.
The plural is 'des travaux', but when referring to jobs/tasks given, we often say 'des tâches' or 'du travail'.
Yes, though 'donner des devoirs' is more specific for school homework.
It depends on the tone. To a friend, it's fine if you're joking or asking for help. To a stranger, it might sound bossy.
Use 'Il m'a donné beaucoup de travail'.
'Travail' is neutral/standard; 'boulot' is informal/slang.
Yes, it's perfectly appropriate for one-off projects.
Yes, 'Il ne donne pas de travail'. The 'un' becomes 'de'.
In slang, you might hear 'filer un taf'.
Related Phrases
donner du travail
similarTo give some work (general quantity)
donner un emploi
synonymTo provide a job/employment
confier une tâche
specialized formTo entrust a task
donner un coup de main
similarTo give a helping hand
donner un devoir
specialized formTo give homework
