tâche

Tâche is a French feminine noun written as tâche (with circumflex) or tache (without circumflex). The two spellings correspond to distinct meanings in contemporary French.

The form with the circumflex, tâche, designates a task, assignment, or duty to be performed. It is used broadly in everyday language and professional contexts, as in examples like terminer une tâche, planifier une tâche, or les tâches domestiques. This sense covers work to be completed, responsibilities, and items in a to-do list or workflow.

The form without the circumflex, tache, means a stain or blemish on a surface or fabric, or a blot on the skin. It is used when referring to marks such as dirt, ink, or other discolorations, as in il y a une tache sur la chemise or une tache d’encre sur le papier.

In practical usage, tâche is also common in technical and organizational vocabulary. In computing and project management, it refers to a unit of work to be scheduled or executed, for example une tâche planifiée (a scheduled task) or une tâche en arrière-plan (a background task). The word is widely understood across French-speaking regions and appears in education, business, and IT contexts.

See also: related terms include travail, mission, devoir (for more formal or broad notions of work), and marquage or salissure (for stains).