[Originally posted on 12/22/18 on the Duolingo French for English speakers forum by Sitesurf]
Remember that occupations can act as adjectives when used with être or devenir, so unlike in English, the French often drop the indefinite article (un, une, des) before an occupation.
- Je suis juge. — I am a judge.
- Elle va devenir avocate. — She is going to become a lawyer.
- Ses parents sont boulangers. — His/Her parents are bakers.
However, if any specification follows the occupation, then the indefinite article must be added.
- Tu es un juge respecté par tous. — You are a judge respected by all.
- Il veut devenir un professeur pour adultes. — He wants to become a teacher for adults.
Omitting the indefinite article is optional. However, if it’s included in the third-person, then you must use c’est or ce sont.
- C’est un juge. — He’s a judge.
- C’est une dentiste bien connue. — She is a well-known dentist.
- Ce sont des journalistes. — They are journalists.
Genders in Occupations
Some occupations have the same form in both masculine and feminine.
- un médecin — a doctor
- un/une juge — a judge
- un/une journaliste — a journalist
- un/une pédiatre — a pediatrician
- un/une dentiste — a dentist
- un/une secrétaire — a secretary
- un/une ingénieur — an engineer
- un professeur — a teacher
Some professions do not reflect the gender of the person at all and are invariable; un médecin, un professeur, and un maire, for instance, are all masculine regardless of the person doing the work.
Other occupations have a feminine form that’s derived from the masculine:
| Masculine | Feminine | English |
|---|---|---|
| un policier | une policière | a police officer |
| un agriculteur | une agricultrice | a farmer |
| un avocat | une avocate | a lawyer |
| un enseignant | une enseignante | a teacher |
| un serveur | une serveuse | a server |
| un cuisinier | une cuisinière | a cook |
| un coiffeur | une coiffeuse | a hairdresser |
| un boulanger | une boulangère | a baker |
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