Bureau or travail: a desk, an office or your work?
Learn when bureau means a desk or an office, and how travail describes work. Picture cards, a morning conversation and four questions make the difference clear.
In short
Un bureau is a desk or an office. Le travail is work: the activity, a task or employment. Je vais au bureau means “I’m going to the office”; je vais au travail means “I’m going to work”.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
What does bureau mean in French: desk, office or work?
un bureaua desk
Focus: a piece of furniture
sur le bureau
Mon carnet est sur le bureau, à côté de la lampe.
My notebook is on the desk, next to the lamp.
le bureauthe office
Focus: the place where someone works
au bureau / dans le bureau de…
La réunion est dans le bureau de Madame Diallo.
The meeting is in Ms Diallo’s office.
le travailwork
Focus: the activity, workload or employment
du travail / beaucoup de travail
J’ai beaucoup de travail ce matin.
I have a lot of work this morning.
On and around the desk
Find:
- Sam
Tu vas au bureau aujourd’hui ?
Are you going to the office today?
- Lina
Non, je travaille à la maison.
No, I’m working from home.
- Sam
Où est ton carnet ?
Where is your notebook?
- Lina
Sur mon bureau. J’ai du travail pour cet après-midi.
On my desk. I have work for this afternoon.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je cherche du travail. | I’m looking for work. |
| J’ai un nouveau travail. | I have a new job. |
| J’ai terminé ce travail. | I’ve finished this task. |
| Nous avons deux bureaux. | We have two desks / offices. |
The plural is des bureaux. When the meaning could be either desk or office, a location helps: sur le bureau points to a surface; dans le bureau de Lina points to a room. A teacher, builder or shop assistant can say je vais au travail too.