Skip to content

chômer

to be unemployed

verb shoh-MEH Rare

Also means

to be idle

Usage Note

Chômer means to be out of work or, for a day, to be a public holiday (un jour chômé). The related noun chômage means 'unemployment', and chômeur/chômeuse means 'unemployed person'. The expression ne pas chômer ('not to be idle') means to be very busy.

Examples

"Il chôme depuis six mois."

Natural Translation

He has been unemployed for six months.

Explore French by topic