every night we had to do our homework in french

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French translation of 'homework'

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• homeward bound
• homeward journey
• homework club
• homeworking
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• a homework assignment
• my geography homework
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• to do one’s homework on sth
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Back to School in French

• Post author: Language Garage
• Post published: September 5, 2020
• Post category: French / Vocabulary

Image by Tim Hauswirth from Pixabay

It’s September, which means that the school year has begun. In this post, let’s see some vocabulary and expressions that will help you talk about school in French.

La rentr ée Back to School

Let’s start with some basic vocabulary.

• l’école (f.) school
• l’école primaire, le collège, le lycée, l’université (f.)/la faculté primary school, junior high school/middle school, high school, university
• l’étudiant(e), le/la professeur(e) student, teacher, professor

• À quelle école vas-tu ? Where do you go to school?
• C’est une lycéenne. She’s a high school student.
• C’est un lycéen. He’s a high school student.
• Il/Elle va à l’école primaire. He/She goes to primary school.
• Il/Elle est en quelle classe ? What grade is he/she in?
• Qu’est-ce que tu étudies à l’université ? What are you studying at university?

En classe In the classroom

Here’s some vocabulary to help you talk about the classroom.

• la classe, le bureau d’écolier/d’étudiant, l’étagère (f.), le cahier classroom, student’s desk, bookshelf, notebook
• le bureau du/de la professeur(e), le tableau (noir), le tableau blanc, la carte, le globe (terrestre) teacher’s desk, blackboard, whiteboard, map, globe
• la rédaction, l’épreuve essay, test (paper)
• le cahier, du papier, le crayon, le stylo, la gomme notebook, paper, pencil, pen, eraser
• la tablette, l’écran, la calculatrice tablet, screen, calculator
• étudier, apprendre, écouter, passer un examen, prendre des notes to study, to learn, to listen to, to take a test, to take notes
• Cette classe est grande/petite. This classroom is big/small.
• Le/La professeur(e) écrit sur le tableau blanc. The teacher writes on the whiteboard.
• Les étudiants prennent des notes. The students take notes.
• Les étudiants écoutent le/la professeur(e). The students listen to the teacher.
• Les étudiants prêtent attention au/à la professeur(e). The students pay attention to the teacher.
• J’ai une question. I have a question.
• Le/La professeur(e) répond aux étudiants. The teacher answers the students’ questions.
• Le/La professeur(e) enseigne. Les étudiants apprennent. The teacher teaches. The students learn.

les devoirs homework

If you’re in primary school or high school, you probably have a lot of opportunity to say things like:

• l’interro(gation) (f.), le contrôle, le test test, exam, quiz
• On a une interro demain. We have a test tomorrow.
• J’ai une interro. I ’m taking a test.
• Je dois étudier. I have to study.
• J’ai beaucoup de devoirs. I have a lot of homework.
• Je dois mémoriser du vocabulaire nouveau. I have to memorize new vocabulary.
• Je fais mes devoirs chaque soir. I do homework every night.
• J’ai eu une bonne/mauvaise note à l’interro. I got a good/bad grade on the test.
• J’ai raté l’examen. I failed the test.
• Je passe dans la classe supérieure/Je redouble. I passed/failed the class.

les matières school subjects

• les langues (f.) languages
• la littérature literature
• l’histoire (f.) history
• la science science
• les mathématiques (f.) math
• l’économie (f.) economics
• la psychologie psychology
• la biologie biology
• la chimie chemistry
• la physique physics
• la science politique political science
• l’informatique computer science
• la géographie geography
• la philosophie philosophy
• la médecine medicine
• le droit law
• le calcul calculus

Quelle est ta matière favorite ? What ’s your favorite subject?

Here’s some vocabulary for talking about the subjects you like, and the ones you don’t.

• L’histoire est ma matière favorite. History is my favorite subject.
• Je suis bon(ne) en langues. I ’m good at languages.
• Je réussis bien/j’ai des bonnes notes en biologie. I ’m doing well/getting good grades in biology.
• Quelle est la matière que tu préfères le moins ? What’s your least favorite subject?
• Je n’aime pas les maths/mathématiques. I don ’t like math.
• Je suis mauvais(e)/nul(le) en sciences. I ’m bad at science.
• Je ne comprend pas la chimie. I don ’t understand chemistry.
• Je ne suis pas bon(ne) en physique.  I ’m doing poorly/getting bad grades in physics.

à l’université at university

If you’re un étudiant / une étudiante d’université university student , you’ll probably have a chance to use this vocabulary.

• le cours (magistral), le séminaire, les travaux dirigés, le colloque, course, seminar/lecture, workshop/lab, colloquium
• l’auditorium (m.), l’amphi(théâtre), le labo(ratoire) auditorium, lecture hall, laboratory
• J’ai classe aujourd’hui. I have class today.
• Je n’ai pas classe cet aprèm (fam.)/après-midi. I don’t have class this afternoon.
• J’étudie à la bibliothèque. I study in the library.
• Je fais de la recherche. I’m doing research.
• J’écris un article de recherche. I’m writing a research paper.
• Je fais une expérience. I’m doing an experiment.
• Sur quoi porte votre thèse? / Quel est le sujet de votre thèse? What’s your thesis on?
• J’écris ma thèse. I’m writing my thesis.
• J’ai une chambre dans un foyer d’étudiants. I live in a dormitory.
• J’ai un/une coloc(ataire). I have a roommate.

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How to Say “Do Homework” in French: A Comprehensive Guide

Learning how to say “do homework” in French is essential for anyone studying the language or planning to communicate with French speakers. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to express this phrase, providing tips, examples, and even regional variations when necessary. Whether you’re a student or just curious about the language, let’s dive in and expand your French vocabulary!

Formal Ways to Say “Do Homework”

When it comes to formal language, it’s crucial to choose the words carefully. For instance, if you want to express “do homework” in a more formal manner, you can use the following options:

• “Faire les devoirs” – This is the most common and straightforward way to say “do homework” in French. It’s a simple and widely accepted phrase that works in any formal setting. For example, “Je dois faire les devoirs ce soir” translates to “I have to do my homework tonight.”
• “Effectuer les devoirs” – While less commonly used than “faire les devoirs,” this phrase is still appropriate in formal contexts. It conveys a sense of performing or executing the task of homework. An example would be “Il doit effectuer ses devoirs avant demain” meaning “He must do his homework before tomorrow.”
• “Réaliser les devoirs” – This option adds a touch of sophistication and implies an accomplishment or realization of homework. It’s often used in educational or professional settings. For instance, you could say “Les étudiants doivent réaliser les devoirs assignés” to mean “The students must complete the assigned homework.”

Informal Ways to Say “Do Homework”

When you’re in a casual or informal setting, there are alternative phrases that you can use to convey the same meaning. These expressions are colloquial and commonly used in everyday conversation between friends or family members:

• “Faire ses devoirs” – This is the informal counterpart of the formal phrase “faire les devoirs.” It’s a shortened version often used in day-to-day conversations. For example, you might say “Je vais faire mes devoirs” meaning “I’m going to do my homework.”
• “Bosser” – This slang term is widely used by French students, especially among younger generations. It is derived from the word “bosser” meaning to work or study intensively. For instance, you could say “J’ai passé la soirée à bosser mes devoirs” which translates to “I spent the evening doing my homework.”
• “Travailler sur ses devoirs” – This is a more descriptive way to say “work on homework” and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It emphasizes the act of working on the assignments. An example would be “J’ai besoin de travailler sur mes devoirs ce soir” meaning “I need to work on my homework tonight.”

Regional Variations

French is spoken in various regions, and there may be some local variations in vocabulary. However, when it comes to expressing “do homework” in French, the phrases mentioned earlier are widely understood and accepted throughout the French-speaking world. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about regional variations regarding this specific phrase.

Useful Tips and Examples

Here are some additional tips and examples to help you understand how to use the phrases mentioned above:

• Use context: Always consider the context before choosing the right phrase. Pay attention to whether you are in a formal or informal environment.
• Modify verbs: You can modify the verbs used in the phrases to match the subject or tense. For example, instead of “faire,” you can use “ferai” to express “will do” or “doing” in the future tense.
• Combine with adverbs: Add adverbs to provide more information about the intensity or timeframe of doing homework. For instance, “Je dois faire rapidement mes devoirs” translates to “I have to do my homework quickly.”
• Learn related vocabulary: Expand your knowledge by learning related vocabulary such as “assignments” (les devoirs à rendre) or “studying” (étudier) to express yourself more precisely.

“J’ai passé la journée à faire mes devoirs et je suis épuisé(e)!” (Translation: “I spent the whole day doing my homework, and I’m exhausted!”)

Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering a language. Use these phrases regularly, listen to native speakers, and immerse yourself in French culture to improve your language skills.

Now that you have a better understanding of how to say “do homework” in French, you can confidently communicate this concept in both formal and informal situations. Best of luck with your journey in learning French!

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What is the translation of "homework" in French?

"homework" in french, homework {noun}.

• volume_up devoir scolaire

homeworker {noun}

• volume_up travailleur à domicile
• travailleuse à domicile

homeworking {noun}

• volume_up travail à domicile

holiday homework {noun}

• volume_up devoir de vacances

homework book {noun}

• volume_up cahier de devoirs

Translations

• open_in_new Link to source
• warning Request revision

Context sentences

English french contextual examples of "homework" in french.

These sentences come from external sources and may not be accurate. bab.la is not responsible for their content.

Monolingual examples

English how to use "homework" in a sentence, english how to use "homeworker" in a sentence, english how to use "homeworking" in a sentence, english how to use "holiday homework" in a sentence, english how to use "homework book" in a sentence, english how to use "devoir scolaire" in a sentence, english how to use "travailleur à domicile" in a sentence, english how to use "travailleuse à domicile" in a sentence, english how to use "devoir de vacances" in a sentence, collocations, "assigned homework" in french.

• volume_up devoirs assignés

"assign homework" in French

• volume_up assigner des devoirs
• volume_up attribuer les devoirs

"homework assignment" in French

• volume_up devoirs
• volume_up Devoir

Synonyms (English) for "homework":

• preparation
• hometown discount
• hometown fans
• hometown hero
• hometown newspaper
• hometown paper
• hometown pride
• homeward bound
• homeward journey
• homeward-bound commuters
• homework assignment
• homework assistance
• homework book
• homework completion
• homework diary
• homework help
• homework load
• homework notebook
• homework session

Translations into more languages in the bab.la English-Norwegian dictionary .

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Homework in French

Homework in French is devoirs

Example Sentences

• Elle aidait son frère dans ses devoirs . She assisted her brother with his homework . Source
• J'ai fait mes devoirs hier. I did my homework yesterday. Source
• J'ai fini mes devoirs avec difficulté. I finished my homework with difficulty. Source
• Je viens de finir mes devoirs . I have just finished my homework . Source
• Je me suis mis à jour dans tous mes devoirs la nuit dernière. I caught up on all my homework last night. Source
• Je finis mes devoirs . I'm finishing my homework . Source
• Faire ses devoirs est extrêmement ennuyeux. Doing homework is extremely boring. Source
• Je regarde la télé après avoir fini mes devoirs . I watch TV after I finish my homework . Source
• Combien de temps me faudra-t-il pour finir mes devoirs  ? How long will it take me to finish my homework ? Source
• Que cela te plaise ou non, tu dois faire tes devoirs . Whether you like it or not, you have to do your homework . Source
• Je pensais que tu avais des devoirs . I thought you had homework . Source
• Je compte sur son aide pour faire mes devoirs . I intend him to help me with my homework . Source
• As-tu fini tes devoirs  ? You have finished your homework , haven't you? Source
• Je me suis endormi en faisant mes devoirs . I fell asleep while I was doing my homework . Source
• Remets tes devoirs pour demain, je te prie. Please turn in your homework by tomorrow. Source
• Elle a fait ses devoirs en un clin d’œil. She did her homework in a flash. Source
• Il finit ses devoirs avant de se coucher. He finishes his homework before going to bed. Source

Looking for something a bit more visual? Check out our infographic on Homework in French with example sentences and translations.

Useful Links

• Collins Dictionary
• Cambridge Dictionary
• WordReference
• Google Translate

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How to say "I do my homework." in French.

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Variants of “to have to” in French: How to express obligation

We have many variants of the concept of to have to  in French. From things that you should  do to things you are obligated  to do, how can you tell how imperative the task at hand is?

In this post, we’ll cover the different expressions for obligation in French , including situations where these phrases are used, the amount of importance they imply, and how to use them yourself. We’ll group them by the verbs they’re each built around, generally introducing them in order from least to most imperative. You must  keep reading to learn them all!

This article is brought to you by LingoCulture, Where you can get unlimited private French classes via Zoom with native teachers for a flat monthly rate. It’s the closest thing to immersion you can get without living in a French-speaking country. Click here to learn more.

The verb devoir  in French means to have to  or must . We can change level of obligation when using devoir  in French by using indicative vs conditional tenses. Let’s see each of these here.

Devoir present tense

In the present tense, devoir expresses obligation as a good approximation of to have to  or must  in French. To use devoir for expressing obligation, the conjugated form is always followed by an infinitive of the verb that has to be done. In this way, devoir in the present tense is most commonly used with tasks such as chores or school-related tasks like homework.

• On doit  faire les courses. – We must  go grocery shopping.
• Je dois  lui téléphoner. – I have to  call him.

(Note that if we don’t follow the conjugated form with another infinitive, devoir  in French has a different meaning: to owe .)

Devoir in the conditional mood

To say should  in French, we use devoir in the conditional mood. Like we just saw in the present tense, the conditional conjugation is followed by an infinitive in order to express the action that should be done.

This use of the verb devoir  most often expresses tasks that would be nice or useful to complete, but are not necessarily obligatory. However, it can also be used as a gentle way to give a command.

• Vous devriez  faire la vaisselle. – You should  do the dishes.
• Je devrais  ranger ma chambre. – I should  clean my room.

Avoir  is the French verb meaning to have , and a couple of useful expressions of obligation are built around it. Indeed, avoir à  is a literal translation of to have to  in French, although this usage is way less common than its English equivalent. Let’s see both of these French avoir expressions here, starting with the one that’s used most frequently.

If you want to go deeper on the many uses of this verb, we can also recommend our related posts on the many meanings of avoir, and on common avoir expressions.

Avoir besoin de

Avoir besoin de means to need to  or simply to need  in French. We can use this expression both with actions (verbs) or items (nouns). On its own, avoir un besoin  translates as to have a need . When used to express an obligation, avoir besoin de  is the full wording, with avoir  conjugated. See our other post for all conjugations of the French verb avoir .

Avoir besoin de can be used to talk about tasks that someone must do or needs to do. It’s used very similarly to the verb devoir  that we saw above, followed by the infinitive form of the verb that needs to be done:

• J’ ai besoin de  sortir la poubelle. – I need to  take out the trash.
• Elles ont besoin d’ acheter les cadeaux. – They need to  buy the gifts.

Unlike the verb devoir, the expression avoir besoin de can also be used to express needing an item. In this case, the phrase doesn’t refer to an obligation, but rather a personal need. The best English equivalent is simply to need :

• J’ ai besoin de  6 oeufs pour cette recette. – I need  six eggs for this recipe.
• Mes enfants ont besoin de dix heures de sommeil par nuit. – My kids need ten hours of sleep every night.

Another way to use avoir  to express obligation in French is to use it with the preposition à  to mean to have to do  something. Avoir à  is a literal translation of to have to  in French, but it’s used a lot less than the other equivalents we’re covering here. It’s often used fairly generally to signify that you have something to do, often as an excuse if you need to take your leave or avoid some other obligation.

• Désolé, je ne peux pas venir. J’ ai  trop de choses à faire . – Sorry, I can’t come. I have  too many things to do .

The irregular French verb falloir  is primarily used in the expressions il faut que  and il faut . In English, these expressions indicate necessity, often translated as it is necessary . Both expressions mean the same thing, but each has its own set of grammatical rules.

Il faut que

The expression il faut que is an impersonal expression in French, which means it uses “il” in a sense that does not refer to a person or object. To use il faut que , the expression is followed by a subject and a verb conjugated in the subjunctive mood: the conjugated verb describes the action that the subject must  do.

This phrase roughly translates to it is necessary that  or must , and carries a stronger sense of obligation than should .

• Il faut que tu fasses attention. – It is necessary that  you pay attention. – You must  pay attention.
• Il faut qu’ Émile rende son livre. – It is necessary that  Émile returns his book. – Émile must  return his book.

The expression il faut is another impersonal expression in French, but is followed directly by an infinitive. This construction is used to describe a general necessity that isn’t directed directly at someone specific.

Il faut  in English roughly translates as it is necessary to .

• Il faut obéir à ses parents. – It is necessary to  obey one’s parents.
• Il faut compléter les tâches avant de se coucher. – It’s necessary to  finish one’s tasks before going to bed.

Il faut vs On doit

The first way we saw for expressing obligation in French was to use the verb devoir in the present tense and following it with another verb in the infinitive form. When we use that construction with the impersonal pronoun on  we get the expression on doit , meaning one must  or we must .

So what’s the difference between il faut  and on doit ? Well, the main nuance when using devoir vs falloir  in French is relatively small, but nonetheless important. It all comes down to what we’re emphasizing.

The verb devoir, or the general expression on doit , highlights the subject of the sentence and expresses something that someone  has to do.

Conversely, the verb falloir  is impersonal as in the expression il faut , meaning it is necessary . This expression highlights the action itself  rather than the people completing the action.

Both expressions introduce an action that must be done, but the connotation of said action being someone’s duty (with devoir ) or a necessity (with falloir ) depends on the verb and expression being used.

• On doit faire  la lessive. – We need to do  the laundry. (Here, the emphasis is on the subject, we .)
• Il faut faire  la lessive. – The laundry needs to be done . (Here, the emphasis is on the task, doing the laundry .)

Être  on its own does not denote obligation, but several French expressions to describe obligation are built around this fundamental verb. These expressions are fairly formal, and imply a strong imperative as compared with the formulations we’ve seen so far.

Check out our other post for all of the être conjugation tables .

Être forcé de

Être forcé de  is best understood as a way of saying to be obliged to  in French. Although its literal English translation of to be forced to  may appear to have some element of coercion, in French it really just carries a meaning of not having a choice but to do something.

To use this expression we conjugate être  and add the right adjective ending to forcé  to match the subject, and we follow it with an infinitive  of the verb that needs to be done.

• Ma mère est  toujours forcée d’ aller au parc avec mon petit frère. – My mom is  still obliged to  go to the park with my little brother.
• Faute de paiement, nous sommes forcés d’ annuler votre commande. – For lack of payment, we are obliged to  cancel your order.

Être obligé de

A very similar way to say to have to  in French is with the expression être obligé de . Grammatically, this expression functions the same way as être forcé de . The level of obligation is only slightly heavier.

• Nous étions obligés de  demander un prêt. – We had to  ask for a loan.
• Les autres passagers sont obligés d’ attendre. – The other passengers are obliged to  wait.

Être dans l’obligation de

We’re moving along incrementally here with our French expressions of obligation, with être dans l’obligation de  being even more formal than the previous ones. The equivalent is much stronger than simply to have to  in French, with good English translations being to be obliged to  or to have the obligation to .

It uses the construction whereby être is conjugated for the subject , followed by the infinitive form  of the verb whose action is obligatory.

• Les jeunes sont dans l’obligation de  céder leurs places aux aînés. – The young have the obligation to  give up their seats to their elders.
• Comme ils nous ont acueillis l’année passée, nous sommes dans l’obligation d’ inviter mes beaux-parents cette année. – Since they hosted us last year, we’ re obliged to  invite my in-laws this year.

Être contraint de

Much like the previous couple of expressions based around être , the phrase être contraint de  is much weightier than the simple to have to  in French. While it can sometimes be translated as lightly as to be obliged to , this expression usually takes heavier terms such as to be compelled to , to be forced to , or even to have no choice but to . Être contraint de  implies some outside entity as a force that’s beyond negotiation.

It follows the same grammar rules as the phrases above, with the être conjugation and the adjective contrainte matching the subject, and an infinitive form of the action verb at the end.

• Elle est contrainte de  finir ses tâches avant de pouvoir partir. – She is obliged to  finish her tasks before she can leave.
• Comme ils sont fragiles, mes grands-parents étaient contraints de  rester chez eux durant la pandémie. – Since they’re frail, my grandparents were forced to  stay at home during the pandemic.

Être obligatoire

Être obligatoire  is used to express necessity  or obligation  in French. In contrast with the other être expressions  we’ve looked at so far that are used to describe what somebody specific is obliged to do, this expression is used to describe obligations that apply generally . It is frequently used to declare rules with the hope that they’ll be understood as being mandatory.

Gramatically, we can use this expression two ways. When used with the impersonal pronoun il , it is followed by de  and the infinitive  form of whatever action is mandatory. Thus, the structure il est obligatoire de [infinitif]  translates as it is obligatory to [infinitive]  or it is mandatory to [infinitive] . The adjective obligatoire  doesn’t change form here, since it agrees with the pronoun il .

• Il est obligatoire d’ assister à la réunion hebdomadaire. – It is obligatory to  attend the weekly meeting.
• Il est obligatoire d’ utiliser le gel hydroalcoolique avant de toucher les produits. – It is mandatory to  use the hand sanitizer before touching the products.

Whereas the examples we just saw had actions that are obligatory, we can also use être obligatoire  when a noun is obligatory. In this case, the obligatory thing is the subject, and être  is conjugated in the third-person. The adjective obligatoire  also needs to match number of the obligatory subject; it doesn’t change between genders.

• Une preuve de vaccination est obligatoire . – A proof of vaccination is obligatory .
• Les équipements de protection individuelle sont obligatoires  sur le chantier. – Personal protective equipment is mandatory  on the worksite.

Se voir dans l’obligation de

Our final and most-formal way of saying to have to  in French is se voir dans l’obligation de . The phrase implies an outside, superior force behind the obligation, often with a tinge of regret.

This long and grammatically-complex expression is based around the reflexive verb se voir , meaning essentially to see oneself . The long-form translation is therefore to find oneself under the obligation to . It can also use the adjective, with the form se voir obligé de .

• Elle s’est vue dans l’obligation de  déménager à cause d’une détérioration du quartier. – She found herself obliged to  move because of the neighborhood’s deterioration.
• Vers la fin de sa vie, nous nous sommes vus dans l’obligation d’ engager une aide-soignante pour s’occuper de notre mère. – Near the end of her life, we were obliged to  hire a personal nurse to care for our mother.

In this post we covered the full spectrum of options for expressing obligation  in French. We started with the lightest levels of necessity, with should , to need to , and to have to  in French. We worked our way up through even more imperative expressions where we really state how obligated we are to do something.

Maintenant, quand vous avez besoin d’ exprimer une obligation en français , vous connaissez de nombreuses options! – Now when you need to  express an obligation in French , you know many options!

KEEP READING

Ordinal numbers in french: a simple guide, french accent marks: a quick guide to the five french diacritics, bonjour mon ami 12 ways to say friend in french, an vs année, jour vs journée, and nuit vs nuitée: subtle french word pairs.