Devoirs or exercices? A French homework cheat sheet

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 28 September 2026 · About the library

Read a teacher’s instructions, distinguish homework from one exercise, and practise mes devoirs, un devoir and je dois with a short classroom exchange.

In short

Les devoirs means homework. Un exercice is one practice activity, in class or at home. In Je dois finir cet exercice, dois is the verb devoir: “I have to finish this exercise.”

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Two students work together while a teacher gives instructions. — An in-class exercice can later become part of les devoirs. Illustration: Atelier

Homework, exercise or obligation?

1 · Homework: use the plural

Learn faire ses devoirs as a phrase. Change the possessive to match the person.

les devoirs pour lundi

homework for Monday

Je fais mes devoirs.I’m doing my homework.

Elle fait ses devoirs.She’s doing her homework.

2 · One practice task: un exercice

An exercise can contain several questions. It can be oral or written.

Cet exercice contient cinq questions.This exercise has five questions.

Nous faisons un exercice oral.We’re doing a speaking exercise.

3 · One assignment: un devoir

A teacher can use the singular for one piece of assigned work.

Je prépare un devoir de français.I’m preparing a French assignment.

4 · Have to: devoir + infinitive

Here devoir is a verb. Je dois is “I have to”; nous devons is “we have to”.

Je dois répondre aux questions.I have to answer the questions.

Nous devons finir avant midi.We have to finish before noon.

On the study desk

What do we do now, and what is for tomorrow?

À la fin du cours

Professeure
Maintenant, faites l’exercice deux avec un partenaire.
Now do exercise two with a partner.
Élève
Et pour demain ?
And for tomorrow?
Professeure
Pour les devoirs, faites les exercices trois et quatre.
For homework, do exercises three and four.
Élève
Je dois écrire les réponses dans mon cahier ?
Do I have to write the answers in my exercise book?
Professeure
Oui, faites des phrases complètes.
Yes, write complete sentences.

Exercise two happens during the lesson. Exercises three and four are homework because the teacher assigns them for tomorrow. The word exercice tells you the activity; les devoirs groups the assigned work.

Two useful extra phrases: faire de l’exercice means getting physical exercise, while faire un exercice means doing one exercise. Un devoir can also mean a duty: C’est mon devoir de respecter cet engagement — it is my duty to honour this commitment.