At the A1 level, the word 'profession' is introduced as a basic vocabulary item to help you talk about yourself and others. You learn to answer simple questions like 'Quelle est votre profession ?' (What is your profession?). It is essential for basic introductions and filling out simple forms. You will learn that it is a feminine noun, meaning you must use 'une' or 'la' with it. The focus is on memorizing the word and associating it with common job titles like professeur, médecin, or étudiant.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'profession' in slightly more complex sentences. You learn to describe professions using adjectives, such as 'une profession intéressante' or 'une profession difficile'. You also start using verbs like 'changer' (to change) or 'choisir' (to choose) in relation to professions. You can express basic opinions about different jobs and understand short texts or dialogues where people discuss their work routines and professional lives.
At the B1 level, 'profession' becomes part of broader discussions about career paths, education, and the future. You can explain why you chose a certain profession and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different career choices. You learn to differentiate 'profession' from similar words like 'métier' and 'emploi'. You can participate in job interviews in French and understand job advertisements, discussing professional experience and qualifications.
At the B2 level, you engage with 'profession' in more abstract and societal contexts. You can discuss the evolution of different professions, the impact of technology on the job market, and the concept of 'professions libérales'. You are comfortable reading articles about employment trends, professional ethics, and labor laws. You can express nuanced opinions on work-life balance and the societal value placed on various professions.
At the C1 level, your use of 'profession' is sophisticated and precise. You can analyze complex texts regarding the sociology of work, professional regulations, and economic structures. You understand idiomatic expressions and formal administrative jargon related to employment. You can debate topics like the gig economy, professional burnout, and the historical transformation of specific professions, using a wide range of advanced vocabulary and complex grammatical structures.
At the C2 level, you have a near-native mastery of the word 'profession' and its derivatives. You can discuss the philosophical implications of work, identity, and professional fulfillment. You can write academic or highly formal professional documents, navigating the subtle nuances between terms like vocation, sacerdoce, and profession. You effortlessly understand literary, historical, and legal texts that explore the concept of professional duty and societal organization.

Profession em 30 segundos

  • A feminine noun meaning job, career, or occupation.
  • Highly common in formal and administrative contexts.
  • Often used with verbs like exercer, choisir, and changer de.
  • Distinct from 'métier' which can imply manual craft.
The French word profession is a feminine noun that translates directly to profession, job, or occupation in English. It refers to a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification. While it is often used interchangeably with words like métier or emploi, profession carries a slightly more formal or administrative tone. When filling out official documents in France, you will almost always see the field marked as profession rather than métier. Understanding this distinction is crucial for navigating both casual conversations and formal administrative processes in French-speaking countries.
Formal Usage
Used primarily in administrative contexts, legal documents, and formal introductions.
Everyday Usage
Can be used in daily life, though métier is often preferred for manual or creative jobs.
Nuance
Implies a level of expertise, education, or specialized training compared to a simple job.

Quelle est votre profession actuelle ?

Il exerce la profession de médecin.

Elle a choisi cette profession par passion.

C'est une profession très respectée.

Changer de profession demande du courage.

Using profession correctly involves understanding its collocations and grammatical gender. As a feminine noun, it requires feminine adjectives and articles (une profession, la profession, cette profession). The most common verbs associated with profession are exercer (to practice/exercise), choisir (to choose), changer de (to change), and apprendre (to learn). When asking someone about their job formally, the standard phrase is 'Quelle est votre profession ?'. In more casual settings, you might hear 'Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?' instead. It is also important to note the phrase 'de profession', which is used to specify someone's trained occupation regardless of their current job status.
Exercer une profession
The formal way to say 'to practice a profession' or 'to work as'.
De profession
Used to indicate one's underlying career or training, e.g., 'Il est avocat de profession.'
Changer de profession
Means to change careers. Note the use of 'de' without an article.

Il est boulanger de profession.

Elle exerce une profession libérale.

C'est une profession exigeante.

Nous parlons de sa profession.

La profession d'enseignant est noble.

You will encounter the word profession in a variety of contexts, ranging from official paperwork to formal introductions. In France, any time you fill out a form for the government, a bank, or a rental agency, there will be a box labeled 'Profession'. During job interviews, recruiters might ask about your 'parcours professionnel' (professional background) or why you chose your specific profession. In the news, journalists frequently discuss 'les professions médicales' or 'les professions de santé' when talking about healthcare workers. It is a ubiquitous term in the adult working world, signifying one's place in the economic structure of society.
Administration
Forms, IDs, and official documents always use this term.
Media
News reports discussing strikes, wages, or industry regulations.
Networking
Formal business events where people introduce their roles.

Veuillez indiquer votre profession sur ce formulaire.

Les syndicats défendent la profession.

Il a honte de sa profession.

C'est une profession en plein essor.

La profession est réglementée par l'État.

Learners often make a few key mistakes with the word profession. The most common is confusing the gender. Because it ends in -sion, it is feminine, so you must say 'ma profession', not 'mon profession'. Another frequent error is translating 'I am a professional' directly. In French, 'un professionnel' is a noun, but to describe your job, you state the job title directly without an article (Je suis avocat). Additionally, learners sometimes overuse profession in casual conversation where 'métier' or 'travail' would sound much more natural. Saying 'Quelle est ta profession ?' to a peer at a party sounds overly stiff and formal.
Gender Agreement
Always use feminine modifiers: belle profession, nouvelle profession.
Over-formality
Avoid using it in very casual chats; prefer 'tu fais quoi ?'
Article Usage
Do not use articles before job titles after the verb être.

Ma profession est très intéressante.

C'est sa profession principale.

Il aime sa profession.

Quelle profession as-tu choisie ?

Une profession difficile.

The French language has several words related to work, and understanding their nuances will greatly enrich your vocabulary. 'Métier' is the closest synonym to profession, but it often implies a craft, trade, or manual skill, though it is widely used for all jobs today. 'Emploi' refers specifically to a position of employment or a job slot. 'Travail' is the general word for work or labor. 'Poste' refers to a specific position within a company. 'Carrière' refers to your long-term career path. Knowing when to use which term helps you sound much more like a native speaker.
Métier
Often implies a learned craft or trade, slightly less formal than profession.
Emploi
Focuses on the economic aspect of having a job or position.
Travail
The most general term for work, effort, or the place where you work.

Son métier et sa profession sont liés.

Il cherche une nouvelle profession.

La profession d'avocat est prestigieuse.

Elle a une profession stable.

Une profession d'avenir.

How Formal Is It?

Nível de dificuldade

Gramática essencial

Feminine noun agreements

Omission of articles before professions with être

Prepositions with professions (travailler comme, exercer de)

Interrogative adjectives (quel/quelle)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce/cette)

Exemplos por nível

1

Quelle est votre profession ?

What is your profession?

Use 'quelle' because profession is feminine.

2

Ma profession est professeur.

My profession is teacher.

No article before the job title.

3

Il aime sa profession.

He likes his profession.

Possessive adjective 'sa' agrees with the feminine noun.

4

C'est une bonne profession.

It is a good profession.

Adjective 'bonne' is feminine.

5

Elle a une profession.

She has a profession.

Basic possession with avoir.

6

Je cherche une profession.

I am looking for a profession.

Verb chercher used directly with the noun.

7

Sa profession est médecin.

His/her profession is doctor.

Sa can mean his or her, agreeing with profession.

8

Indiquez votre profession ici.

Indicate your profession here.

Imperative form of indiquer.

1

C'est une profession très intéressante.

It is a very interesting profession.

Adjective agreement with feminine noun.

2

Il veut changer de profession.

He wants to change professions.

Changer de + noun without article.

3

Elle a choisi cette profession.

She chose this profession.

Demonstrative adjective 'cette'.

4

C'est une profession difficile.

It is a difficult profession.

Adjective placed after the noun.

5

Quelle profession préférez-vous ?

Which profession do you prefer?

Interrogative adjective 'quelle'.

6

Il parle de sa profession.

He talks about his profession.

Parler de + noun.

7

C'est sa nouvelle profession.

It is his/her new profession.

Adjective 'nouvelle' placed before the noun.

8

La profession d'infirmière est fatigante.

The nursing profession is tiring.

Profession de + job title.

1

Il exerce la profession d'avocat depuis dix ans.

He has been practicing the profession of lawyer for ten years.

Exercer une profession is a formal collocation.

2

C'est une profession qui demande beaucoup de patience.

It's a profession that requires a lot of patience.

Relative pronoun 'qui' as subject.

3

Elle est comptable de profession.

She is an accountant by profession.

Expression 'de profession'.

4

Les professions médicales sont très respectées.

Medical professions are highly respected.

Plural feminine agreement.

5

Il a fait une présentation sur sa profession.

He gave a presentation about his profession.

Preposition 'sur' for 'about'.

6

Beaucoup de jeunes cherchent une profession stable.

Many young people are looking for a stable profession.

Adjective 'stable' after the noun.

7

Cette profession offre de bonnes perspectives.

This profession offers good prospects.

Verb offrir with abstract noun.

8

Il est important d'aimer sa profession.

It is important to love one's profession.

Impersonal expression 'il est important de'.

1

L'accès à cette profession est strictement réglementé.

Access to this profession is strictly regulated.

Passive voice with adverb.

2

Les professions libérales ont un statut particulier.

Liberal professions have a special status.

Specific cultural term 'professions libérales'.

3

Il a écrit un article sur l'évolution de la profession.

He wrote an article on the evolution of the profession.

Noun phrase with 'de'.

4

C'est une profession en pleine mutation.

It is a profession undergoing rapid change.

Expression 'en pleine mutation'.

5

Le secret professionnel est la base de notre profession.

Professional secrecy is the foundation of our profession.

Use of related adjective 'professionnel'.

6

Elle a quitté sa profession pour faire le tour du monde.

She left her profession to travel around the world.

Infinitive of purpose with 'pour'.

7

La féminisation de cette profession est récente.

The feminization of this profession is recent.

Abstract noun subject.

8

Ils défendent les intérêts de leur profession.

They defend the interests of their profession.

Possessive adjective 'leur'.

1

La déontologie est inhérente à l'exercice de cette profession.

Ethics are inherent to the practice of this profession.

Advanced vocabulary 'déontologie' and 'inhérente'.

2

Cette profession a subi de profondes transformations structurelles.

This profession has undergone profound structural transformations.

Verb 'subir' with abstract object.

3

Il s'agit d'une profession intellectuellement exigeante.

It is an intellectually demanding profession.

Impersonal 'il s'agit de'.

4

L'ubérisation menace certaines professions traditionnelles.

Uberization threatens certain traditional professions.

Contemporary economic vocabulary.

5

Les représentants de la profession ont été reçus au ministère.

The representatives of the profession were received at the ministry.

Passive voice in the past.

6

C'est une profession qui requiert une abnégation totale.

It is a profession that requires total self-sacrifice.

Advanced vocabulary 'abnégation'.

7

Le prestige attaché à cette profession s'est érodé.

The prestige attached to this profession has eroded.

Pronominal verb in passive sense.

8

Il a embrassé cette profession par véritable vocation.

He embraced this profession out of a true calling.

Literary verb 'embrasser' for choosing a career.

1

L'ethos de la profession transcende les simples impératifs économiques.

The ethos of the profession transcends simple economic imperatives.

Highly academic vocabulary.

2

On assiste à une prolétarisation rampante des professions intellectuelles.

We are witnessing a creeping proletarianization of intellectual professions.

Sociological terminology.

3

La professionnalisation de ce secteur a engendré une bureaucratie tentaculaire.

The professionalization of this sector has spawned a sprawling bureaucracy.

Complex noun phrases.

4

Il a fait de cette profession un véritable sacerdoce.

He turned this profession into a true priesthood/calling.

Metaphorical use of 'sacerdoce'.

5

Les clivages au sein de la profession exacerbent les tensions sociales.

Divisions within the profession exacerbate social tensions.

Advanced political vocabulary.

6

La rhétorique corporatiste vise à sanctuariser les privilèges de la profession.

Corporatist rhetoric aims to enshrine the privileges of the profession.

Critical analysis vocabulary.

7

Cette profession est le creuset de dynamiques sociales complexes.

This profession is the melting pot of complex social dynamics.

Metaphorical use of 'creuset'.

8

L'obsolescence programmée des compétences guette nombre de professions.

The planned obsolescence of skills threatens many professions.

Advanced economic concepts.

Colocações comuns

exercer une profession
changer de profession
choisir une profession
profession libérale
profession médicale
sans profession
de profession
secret professionnel
parcours professionnel
expérience professionnelle

Frequentemente confundido com

Profession vs Métier

Profession vs Emploi

Profession vs Travail

Fácil de confundir

Profession vs

Profession vs

Profession vs

Profession vs

Profession vs

Padrões de frases

Como usar

nuance

Implies a recognized, often trained career path.

context

Primarily formal and administrative.

frequency

Very high in written French, high in spoken formal French.

Erros comuns
  • Saying 'mon profession' instead of 'ma profession'.
  • Using an article before the job title: 'Je suis un médecin'.
  • Using 'profession' for a very casual, temporary gig.
  • Mispronouncing the final nasal 'on' as an English 'on'.
  • Saying 'changer la profession' instead of 'changer de profession'.

Dicas

Gender Rule

Words ending in -sion are almost always feminine in French. Memorize 'la profession' to ensure you always use the correct agreements.

Drop the Article

When stating your job, drop the article. Say 'Je suis avocat', not 'Je suis un avocat'. This is a very common mistake for English speakers.

Formal vs Informal

Reserve 'profession' for forms, interviews, and formal meetings. Use 'métier' or 'travail' for everyday chats with friends.

Nasal Sound

Practice the final nasal sound 'on' (/ɔ̃/). It should resonate in your nose, unlike the English 'on'.

Administrative Forms

If you are filling out a form in France and see 'Profession', you can write 'Étudiant' if you are a student, or 'Retraité' if retired.

Changer de

When you want to say 'change professions', use 'changer de profession' without any article after 'de'.

De profession

Use the phrase 'de profession' to describe someone's trained background, even if they aren't currently doing it. 'Il est ingénieur de profession'.

Expand your Vocab

Don't just use 'profession'. Learn 'emploi' (job/position) and 'poste' (specific role) to sound more fluent.

Small Talk

In France, asking about someone's job is common small talk, but asking about their salary is considered very rude.

Double S

Remember that profession has a double 's' in French, just like in English. Pro-fes-sion.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a PROFESSor who has a very serious PROFESSION.

Origem da palavra

Latin

Contexto cultural

High in administrative contexts, moderate in daily conversation.

Universally understood across the Francophone world.

Can denote social status depending on the specific job mentioned.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Iniciadores de conversa

"Quelle est votre profession ?"

"Pourquoi avez-vous choisi cette profession ?"

"Est-ce une profession difficile ?"

"Avez-vous déjà pensé à changer de profession ?"

"Comment la technologie change-t-elle votre profession ?"

Temas para diário

Décrivez votre profession idéale.

Quelles sont les qualités nécessaires pour votre profession ?

Racontez une journée typique dans votre profession.

Comment votre profession a-t-elle évolué ?

Si vous deviez changer de profession, que feriez-vous ?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

It is a feminine noun. You must use 'la', 'une', or 'cette' with it. All adjectives describing it must also be feminine, such as 'une belle profession'.

They are very similar. 'Profession' is slightly more formal and often used in administrative contexts. 'Métier' can imply a craft or trade, but is widely used for any job in everyday conversation.

You usually wouldn't use the word 'profession' directly to say this. You would just say 'Je suis professeur'. If you must use it, you could say 'Ma profession est professeur'.

No, job titles and the word profession itself are not capitalized in French unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. For example, 'Il est médecin'.

It means 'without a profession' or unemployed. It is a standard category on French administrative forms for people who do not currently have a job, including homemakers.

It sounds a bit too formal for a summer job. For a temporary or casual job, it is better to use 'un petit boulot' or 'un emploi d'été'.

This is a specific French legal and tax category for independent professionals who provide services, usually of an intellectual or conceptual nature, such as doctors, lawyers, and architects.

Instead of 'Quelle est ta profession ?', which sounds very formal, you can ask 'Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?' (What do you do in life?).

The formal verb is 'exercer'. You say 'exercer une profession' (to practice a profession). You can also simply use 'avoir' (to have a profession).

Yes, 'professionnel' (masculine) and 'professionnelle' (feminine) are the adjectives. They can also be used as nouns to mean 'a professional'.

Teste-se 185 perguntas

writing

Write a sentence stating your profession.

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writing

Ask someone what their profession is formally.

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writing

Translate: My profession is good.

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writing

Translate: She wants to change professions.

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writing

Translate: It is a difficult profession.

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writing

Write a sentence using 'cette profession'.

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writing

Translate: He is a baker by profession.

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writing

Write a sentence using 'exercer une profession'.

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writing

Translate: Medical professions.

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writing

Translate: Liberal professions.

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writing

Write a sentence about professional secrecy.

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writing

Use 'déontologie' and 'profession' in a sentence.

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writing

Translate: The evolution of the profession.

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writing

Write a complex sentence about the proletarianization of professions.

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writing

Translate: A true calling.

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speaking

Say 'What is your profession?' in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'I am a teacher' in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'My profession' in French.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'She is changing professions.'

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speaking

Say 'It is a new profession.'

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speaking

Say 'Without a profession.'

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speaking

Say 'He is an engineer by profession.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'To practice a profession.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Medical professions.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Liberal professions.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Professional secrecy.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'A regulated profession.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'Professional ethics.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'A true calling.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'The ethos of the profession.'

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen and write: Quelle est votre profession ?

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listening

Listen and write: Ma profession.

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listening

Listen and write: Je suis médecin.

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listening

Listen and write: Changer de profession.

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listening

Listen and write: Une profession difficile.

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listening

Listen and write: Sans profession.

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listening

Listen and write: De profession.

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listening

Listen and write: Exercer une profession.

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listening

Listen and write: Les professions médicales.

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listening

Listen and write: Les professions libérales.

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listening

Listen and write: Le secret professionnel.

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listening

Listen and write: Une profession réglementée.

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listening

Listen and write: La déontologie.

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listening

Listen and write: Un sacerdoce.

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listening

Listen and write: L'ethos.

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/ 185 correct

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