Phrasebook
Vacances or congé? Ask for time off and talk about holidays
Say you are on holiday, request a day off and explain an absence in French. Practise en vacances, en congé, prendre des congés and holiday wishes.
- A2
- 10 phrases
- 3 situations
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Les vacances means holidays or a holiday period. Un congé is leave or time off, especially from work. Say je suis en vacances for “I’m on holiday” and je prends un jour de congé for “I’m taking a day off”. A holiday can be spent at home.
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Request a day off
The request uses je voudrais; the answer tells you whether the arrangement is agreed.
A holiday at home
être en vacances describes the holiday period. Partir en vacances adds going away.
Leave for a practical reason
The reason can be moving house, an appointment or another plan.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| être en vacances | to be on holiday |
| partir en vacances | to go away on holiday |
| prendre des congés | to take leave |
| un jour de congé | a day off |
| les vacances scolaires | the school holidays |
| les congés payés | paid leave |
| un congé sans solde | unpaid leave |
For holidays, vacances is feminine plural: de longues vacances, mes prochaines vacances. Congé is masculine: un long congé, des congés. You can use both words for the same week: Je prends une semaine de congé pour partir en vacances.
What is the difference between vacances and congé?
Bonnes vacances !
Have a good holiday!
Both words are feminine plural. For one day off, Profite bien de ta journée ! is a natural friendly wish.