Vocabulary · Everyday life
Jobs in English
A1
Jobs in English: health jobs like doctor and nurse, teaching and the arts, manual jobs, office and service jobs, and how to say what you do. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Health jobs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| doctor(n.)“My mother is a doctor.” | a person who treats sick people | /ˈdɒktə/ |
| nurse(n.) | a person who cares for patients | /nɜːs/ |
| dentist(n.) | a doctor for your teeth | /ˈdentɪst/ |
| vet(n.) | a doctor for animals | /vet/ |
Education and the arts
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| teacher(n.) | a person who helps pupils learn at school | /ˈtiːtʃə/ |
| professor(n.) | a top university teacher | /prəˈfesə/ |
| artist(n.) | a person who paints or draws | /ˈɑːtɪst/ |
| musician(n.) | a person who plays music | /mjuːˈzɪʃən/ |
| writer(n.) | a person who creates books or stories | /ˈraɪtə/ |
Manual jobs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| baker(n.) | a person who makes bread | /ˈbeɪkə/ |
| butcher(n.) | a person who sells meat | /ˈbʊtʃə/ |
| farmer(n.) | a person who grows crops or keeps animals | /ˈfɑːmə/ |
| mechanic(n.) | a person who repairs cars | /məˈkænɪk/ |
| plumber(n.) | a person who fixes water pipes | /ˈplʌmə/ |
| builder(n.) | a person who makes houses and walls | /ˈbɪldə/ |
| electrician(n.) | a person who fixes wires and lights | /ɪlekˈtrɪʃən/ |
Office and service jobs
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| engineer(n.) | a person who designs machines or bridges | /ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
| lawyer(n.) | a person who helps you with the law | /ˈlɔːjə/ |
| banker(n.) | a person with an important finance job | /ˈbæŋkə/ |
| firefighter(n.) | a person who stops fires and rescues people | /ˈfaɪəfaɪtə/ |
| police officer(n.) | a person who keeps law and order | /pəˈliːs ˈɒfɪsə/ |
| cook / chef(n.) | a person who prepares meals | /kʊk/ |
| waiter(n.) | a person who serves food in restaurants | /ˈweɪtə/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
/ˈplʌmbə/ ❌: the b in plumber is silent
Plumber is pronounced /ˈplʌmə/. The b is silent. It is the same in thumb /θʌm/, lamb /læm/ and comb /kəʊm/.
I am doctor ❌: use a or an
Say I am a doctor, with a. In English, the article is necessary before a job: She is a teacher. He is an artist. In the plural, there is no article: They are nurses.
Practice quiz
Going further
The “Jobs” topic is part of the contest vocabulary
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say your job in English?+
Say I'm a + job, with the article: I'm a doctor. Use an before a vowel sound: I'm an engineer. I'm doctor is wrong: in English, a job always needs a or an after be.
Why is the b in plumber silent?+
In English, a b after an m at the end of a word is often silent: plumb, lamb, thumb, comb, climb. Long ago, people pronounced it, but the spelling stayed when the sound disappeared. So plumber is /ˈplʌmə/.
How do you ask someone about their job?+
Ask What do you do? or What's your job? To answer, say I'm a + job. You can also say I work as a nurse or I work in a hospital.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/jobs
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.