/tʁa.va.je/
Translation
to work
Word origin
From Late Latin tripaliare ('to torture'), from tripalium, a three-staked instrument of torture; the sense shifted from 'to torment' to 'to toil, to work'.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- tripaliare
- English cognates
- travail, travel
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | travaille | travaillais | travaillai | travaillerai | travaillerais |
| tu | travailles | travaillais | travaillas | travailleras | travaillerais |
| il/elle | travaille | travaillait | travailla | travaillera | travaillerait |
| nous | travaillons | travaillions | travaillâmes | travaillerons | travaillerions |
| vous | travaillez | travailliez | travaillâtes | travaillerez | travailleriez |
| ils/elles | travaillent | travaillaient | travaillèrent | travailleront | travailleraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | travaille | travaillasse |
| tu | travailles | travaillasses |
| il/elle | travaille | travaillât |
| nous | travaillions | travaillassions |
| vous | travailliez | travaillassiez |
| ils/elles | travaillent | travaillassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | travaille |
| nous | travaillons |
| vous | travaillez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- travaillant
- Past participle
- travaillé · travaillée · travaillés · travaillées
Examples
.
She has been working in a hospital for ten years.
week-end.
I have to work this weekend.
.
He works too much and never rests.
.
I work from home two days a week.
.
My parents worked hard their whole lives.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(11)Chez le médecin
3 min read · Core 1000
Le nouveau voisin
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Le mensonge
4 min read · Core 5000
Un ancien ami
4 min read · Core 5000
Ce qu'il a dit
5 min read · Core 5000
Elle commence à comprendre
5 min read · Core 5000
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Quand tu auras fini
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(7)French Advanced Grammar (C1-C2): The Constructions That Sound Native
French Adjectives and Nouns with à or de
Conjugating French -er Verbs in the Present Tense
Faire causatif: Having Things Done in French
French Relative Pronouns After a Preposition: lequel, auquel, duquel
The French Subjunctive After Conjunctions
French Verbs with à, de or Nothing Before an Infinitive
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travailler: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "travailler" (to work): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 4.