Reporting Problems in French: Broken AC and No Hot Water
Learn beginner French to report a broken air conditioner or missing hot water, ask when a repair will happen, and understand simple repair timelines.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When something breaks in your accommodation, you need to report the problem clearly and ask when it will be fixed. This lesson teaches beginner-friendly French for saying that the air conditioning is not working, that there is no hot water, and for asking about repair times. You will use polite formulas such as 'Excusez-moi' and 'Pourriez-vous' so your request sounds natural and respectful. The focus is on reporting a problem and asking about a timeline, not on requesting new items.
By the end, you can…
- say that the air conditioning is not working in French.
- report that there is no hot water.
- ask when a repair will happen and understand a simple timeline.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Excusez-moi, la climatisation ne marche pas.
Excuse me, the air conditioning isn't working.
ehk-skew-zay-mwah, lah klee-mah-tee-zah-syon nuh marsh pah
Polite opening for a receptionist, host, or maintenance worker. 'Ne marche pas' is common spoken French for 'isn't working'.
Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude.
There is no hot water.
eel nyah pah doh shohd
Use this to report the absence of hot water. 'Il n'y a pas de' means 'there is no'.
Pouvez-vous réparer la climatisation ?
Can you repair the air conditioning?
poo-vay-voo ray-pah-ray lah klee-mah-tee-zah-syon
A polite yes/no question using inversion. Suitable for a receptionist or technician.
Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir ?
When can someone come?
kahn tess-kuh kel-kun puh vuh-neer
Asks for a visit time without demanding an exact hour. 'Quelqu'un' means 'someone'.
C'est possible aujourd'hui ?
Is it possible today?
say po-see-bl oh-zhoor-dwee
A simple way to ask if a repair can happen the same day. Use a rising intonation.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To report a problem, use 'la climatisation ne marche pas' or 'il n'y a pas d'eau chaude'. The pattern 'ne ... pas' makes a negative sentence. In everyday spoken French, the 'ne' is often dropped: 'la climatisation marche pas'. To ask for a repair, use 'Pouvez-vous réparer ... ?' or 'Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir ?'. These are polite and direct enough for a hotel or apartment.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are speaking to a receptionist, landlord, or maintenance worker. Start with 'Excusez-moi' or 'Bonjour' to be polite. If you need to know the timeline, ask 'C'est pour quand ?' (When is it for?) or 'Dans combien de temps ?' (In how long?). A simple answer may be 'Aujourd'hui' (today), 'Demain' (tomorrow), or 'Dans une heure' (in an hour). If the problem is urgent, say 'C'est urgent'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, excusez-moi. La climatisation ne marche pas.
Hello, excuse me. The air conditioning isn't working.bohn-zhoor, ehk-skew-zay-mwah. lah klee-mah-tee-zah-syon nuh marsh pahD'accord. Je vais envoyer quelqu'un. C'est pour quand ?
Okay. I'm going to send someone. When is it for?dah-kor. zhuh vay ahn-vwah-yay kel-kun. say poor kahnAujourd'hui, si possible. Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude non plus.
Today, if possible. There is no hot water either.oh-zhoor-dwee, see po-see-bl. eel nyah pah doh shohd non plewD'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.
Okay. The technician can come in an hour.dah-kor. luh tek-nee-syan puh vuh-neer dahn zewn urA little context goes a long way
In France, 'la climatisation' is common in hotels and offices but less common in private homes, so the phrase is useful in tourist accommodation. In Quebec, you may hear 'l'air climatisé' or 'le climatiseur' instead. Politeness matters: use 'Bonjour' before 'Excusez-moi', and avoid starting with a bare demand. In Belgium and Switzerland, 'septante' and 'nonante' may replace 'soixante-dix' and 'quatre-vingt-dix' for some numbers, but repair times are usually given with simple words like 'demain' or 'dans une heure'.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'La climatisation n'est pas travailler' to mean 'The air conditioning isn't working'.
Try this instead: Use 'ne marche pas' or 'ne fonctionne pas': 'La climatisation ne marche pas.' 'Travailler' means 'to work' as a person does, not for machines in this context.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'There is no hot water' in French?
Show a sample answer
Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude.
This uses 'il n'y a pas de' plus 'eau chaude'. In casual speech you may hear 'Y a pas d'eau chaude', but the full form is safer for beginners.
2A receptionist says 'Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.' What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
The technician can come in an hour.
'Dans une heure' means 'in an hour' from now. 'Dans' is used for a future delay, not 'en une heure', which would mean 'within an hour' or 'taking an hour'.
3Make a polite request: 'Can you repair the air conditioning?'
Show a sample answer
Pouvez-vous réparer la climatisation ?
This uses inversion 'Pouvez-vous' for politeness. You could also say 'Est-ce que vous pouvez réparer la climatisation ?' with the same meaning.
Report the problem with 'ne marche pas' or 'il n'y a pas d'eau chaude', then ask 'Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir ?' and listen for 'aujourd'hui', 'demain', or 'dans une heure'.
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