French · People & Family
"What do you do? (for work)" in French: Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Note: formal: Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ?
What do you do (for work) in French is Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? Keep the tu form; the vous sentence is only a note. Answers start with je suis… or je travaille…
Party intro
Dis, tu fais quoi dans la vie ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Say it
tew fay kwah dahn lah vee
/ty fɛ kwa dɑ̃ la vi/
Tu: tew. Fais: fay. Quoi: kwah. Dans: dahn. La: lah. Vie: vee. Casual rising tone.
"What do you do? (for work)" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? | What do you do (for work)? Default tu question. | Default tu question. |
| tu fais quoi comme travail ? | what kind of work do you do? Slightly more work-focused. | Slightly more work-focused. |
| je suis étudiant | I'm a student Common answer type. | Common answer type. |
| je travaille dans… | I work in… Sector answer. | Sector answer. |
How to use Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? in real life
- 1Party intro
Dis, tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
So, what do you do?
Friendly opener.
- 2Networking drink
Avant de parler boulot : tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Before work talk: what do you do?
Full phrase.
- 3Catching up
Et maintenant, tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
And now, what do you do?
Update question.
Mistakes English speakers make with Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Incorrect: Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ?
Correct: Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
The formal vous line is only a note; this headword is the tu form.
Incorrect: Tu fais quoi in life ?
Correct: Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Keep dans la vie in French.
Good to know
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? is classic French small talk — broader than job title alone. Students, freelancers, and parents between jobs still get asked it casually.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a roommate's friend
ChatPal
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
What do you do?
You
Je suis graphiste. Et toi, tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
I'm a graphic designer. And you, what do you do?
ChatPal
Je travaille en librairie.
I work in a bookstore.
You
Cool, on a des goûts en commun.
Cool, we have tastes in common.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What do you do? (for work)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What do you do? (for work)" in French
How do you ask what someone does in French?
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ?
Is there a vous form?
Yes, but this page trains the tu form.
How do you answer?
Je suis… / Je travaille dans…
How do you pronounce quoi?
kwah.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
