German for Beginners: Reporting a Broken AC or No Hot Water
Learn to report a broken air conditioner or missing hot water in German, say 'Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht,' and ask when a repair will happen.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When something in your room breaks, you need different German from when you order a coffee or ask for extra towels. This lesson teaches you to report a problem clearly: 'Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht' (The air conditioning isn't working) and 'Es gibt kein warmes Wasser' (There is no hot water). You will also learn to ask when someone will fix it and to understand simple time answers such as 'heute' (today) or 'morgen' (tomorrow). The focus is on describing a fault and asking about repair timing, not on requesting new items.
By the end, you can…
- report that the air conditioning or hot water is not working.
- ask when a repair will happen and understand simple time answers.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht.
The air conditioning isn't working.
dee klee-mah-AHN-lah-guh foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT nisht
The standard, neutral way to report a broken AC. Use it with reception, a landlord or a repair service.
Es gibt kein warmes Wasser.
There is no hot water.
es geept kine VAR-mes VAS-ser
A direct statement of the problem. 'Es gibt' means 'there is/there are'; 'kein' negates a noun.
Die Heizung ist kaputt.
The heating is broken.
dee HY-tsoong ist kah-POOT
'Kaputt' is common in everyday speech for 'broken'. It works for machines and appliances, not for people.
Wann können Sie das reparieren?
When can you repair it?
van KUR-nen zee das ray-pah-REE-ren
Polite form with 'Sie'. Use this with staff you do not know. With friends, say 'Wann kannst du das reparieren?'
Können Sie heute jemanden schicken?
Can you send someone today?
KUR-nen zee HOY-tuh YEH-man-den SHIK-en
A polite request for a same-day visit. 'Jemanden' is the accusative form of 'jemand' (someone).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To report a fault, name the thing, then say 'funktioniert nicht' or 'ist kaputt'. Examples: 'Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht.' (The AC isn't working.) 'Der Fernseher ist kaputt.' (The TV is broken.) 'Die Dusche funktioniert nicht.' (The shower isn't working.) German nouns have grammatical gender, so the article changes: 'der' for masculine, 'die' for feminine, 'das' for neuter. Learn each noun with its article: 'die Klimaanlage', 'der Fernseher', 'das Wasser'.
When to use it
Use these sentences when you report a problem to a hotel reception, a landlord or a repair hotline. Keep the tone factual: 'Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht.' Then ask about timing: 'Wann können Sie das reparieren?' or 'Kommen Sie heute?' For a written message, you can start with 'Leider funktioniert die Klimaanlage nicht.' (Unfortunately, the AC isn't working.) 'Leider' softens the complaint and is very common in service situations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag. Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht.
Hello. The air conditioning isn't working.GOO-ten tahk. dee klee-mah-AHN-lah-guh foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT nishtDas tut mir leid. Wir schicken heute jemanden.
I'm sorry about that. We'll send someone today.das toot meer lite. veer SHIK-en HOY-tuh YEH-man-denDanke. Und es gibt auch kein warmes Wasser.
Thank you. And there is also no hot water.DAN-kuh. unt es geept oukh kine VAR-mes VAS-serOkay, der Techniker kommt heute zwischen zwei und vier.
Okay, the technician will come today between two and four.oh-KAY, dair TEKH-nee-ker komt HOY-tuh TSVISH-en tsvy unt feerA little context goes a long way
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, service communication is usually direct but polite. State the problem clearly, then ask for a time. Use 'Sie' with staff and landlords; 'du' is fine with friends or in very informal settings. In Switzerland, 'Es hat kein warmes Wasser' is common instead of 'Es gibt kein warmes Wasser'. In Austria, 'das Service-Team' or 'die Rezeption' are normal terms. Avoid raising your voice; a calm, factual report is more effective.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ich habe keine Klimaanlage' to mean 'The air conditioning isn't working.'
Try this instead: 'Ich habe keine Klimaanlage' means 'I don't have an air conditioner.' To report a fault, say 'Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht' or 'Die Klimaanlage ist kaputt.' Use 'kein' only when something is truly absent, as in 'Es gibt kein warmes Wasser.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The air conditioning isn't working' in German?
Show a sample answer
Die Klimaanlage funktioniert nicht.
This names the appliance and uses 'funktioniert nicht'. 'Die Klimaanlage ist kaputt' is also correct and slightly more informal.
2You need to ask a hotel receptionist when they can repair it. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Wann können Sie das reparieren?
This uses the polite 'Sie' form. With a friend you would say 'Wann kannst du das reparieren?'
3Translate: 'There is no hot water.'
Show a sample answer
Es gibt kein warmes Wasser.
'Es gibt' means 'there is/there are', and 'kein' negates 'warmes Wasser'. In Swiss German, 'Es hat kein warmes Wasser' is also common.
Report the fault first with 'funktioniert nicht' or 'ist kaputt', then ask 'Wann können Sie das reparieren?' and listen for a simple time answer like 'heute' or 'morgen'.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr