First Phrases

Winter home problems · Español

Winter home problems phrases in Spanish: 15 phrases

Tell the landlord or agency that the heating, hot water or power has failed, report a leak, frozen pipe, damp or a window that will not close, ask them to send someone, book a plumber or electrician, ask when they can come, the cost and an invoice, and say it is urgent. Short, natural phrases for when something breaks at home in winter.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "usted" with the landlord ("casero" or "propietario"), the agency ("inmobiliaria") and tradespeople. A plumber is "fontanero", an electrician "electricista", the boiler "caldera"; the building's "portero" or "administrador de fincas" can also help in a block of flats. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How to read the sounds: Spanish is mostly read as written. In Spain, c before e/i and z sound like English th. h is silent. ñ = ny. rr is rolled. Stress is marked in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    La calefacción no funciona.
    Say it like: lah kah-leh-fahk-THYOHN noh foon-THYOH-nah
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "desde ayer" (since yesterday) to say how long.
  2. 02Neutral
    No tenemos agua caliente.
    Say it like: noh teh-NEH-mohs AH-gwah kah-LYEHN-teh
    We have no hot water.
    Register: Say "No tengo" if you live alone.
  3. 03Neutral
    El radiador pierde agua.
    Say it like: ehl rah-dyah-DOR PYEHR-deh AH-gwah
    The radiator is leaking.
    Register: Also "El radiador tiene una fuga" (has a leak).
  4. 04Neutral
    La caldera da un error.
    Say it like: lah kahl-DEH-rah dah oon eh-ROR
    The boiler is showing an error.
    Register: Read out the code: "Sale el código E-uno-cuatro" (the code E14 appears).
  5. 05Neutral
    Nos hemos quedado sin luz.
    Say it like: nohs EH-mohs keh-DAH-doh seen looth
    We have lost power.
    Register: "Luz" means electricity here. Also "Se ha ido la luz".
  6. 06Neutral
    Se ha helado una tubería.
    Say it like: seh ah eh-LAH-doh OO-nah too-beh-REE-ah
    A pipe has frozen.
    Register: Also "Se ha congelado una tubería".
  7. 07Neutral
    Hay moho y humedad en la pared.
    Say it like: eye MOH-oh ee oo-meh-DAHD en lah pah-REHD
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Humedades" (plural) is the usual word for damp patches.
  8. 08Neutral
    La ventana no cierra bien.
    Say it like: lah behn-TAH-nah noh THYEH-rrah byehn
    The window doesn't close properly.
    Register: Add "y entra aire" (and air gets in).
  9. 09Polite
    ¿Puede mandar a alguien a revisarlo?
    Say it like: PWEH-deh mahn-DAHR ah AHL-gyehn ah reh-bee-SAHR-loh
    Could you send someone to check it?
    Register: Use it with the landlord or the agency.
  10. 10Polite
    Quería pedir cita con un fontanero o un electricista.
    Say it like: keh-REE-ah peh-DEER THEE-tah kon oon fon-tah-NEH-roh oh oon eh-lek-tree-THEES-tah
    I'd like to book a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: On the phone, "cita" is the appointment.
  11. 11Polite
    ¿Cuándo podrían venir?
    Say it like: KWAHN-doh poh-DREE-ahn beh-NEER
    When could they come?
    Register: Add "hoy" (today) or "mañana" (tomorrow) to narrow it down.
  12. 12Polite
    ¿Cuánto costaría la reparación?
    Say it like: KWAHN-toh kos-tah-REE-ah lah reh-pah-rah-THYOHN
    How much would the repair cost?
    Register: Also "¿Me pueden dar un presupuesto?" (can you give me a quote?).
  13. 13Polite
    ¿Me puede hacer una factura, por favor?
    Say it like: meh PWEH-deh ah-THER OO-nah fak-TOO-rah por fah-BOR
    Could you give me an invoice, please?
    Register: "Factura" is an invoice, "recibo" a simple receipt.
  14. 14Neutral
    Es urgente, por favor.
    Say it like: ehs oor-HEHN-teh por fah-BOR
    It's urgent, please.
    Register: Say it calmly and politely: it works better than a raised voice.
  15. 15Neutral
    Tengo un niño pequeño y hace mucho frío.
    Say it like: TEHN-goh oon NEE-nyoh peh-KEH-nyoh ee AH-theh MOO-choh FREE-oh
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "un bebé".

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Quick answers

How do you say the heating isn't working in Spanish?

Say: "La calefacción no funciona." (The heating isn't working.)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish with a landlord or tradesperson?

Use "usted" with the landlord ("casero" or "propietario"), the agency ("inmobiliaria") and tradespeople. A plumber is "fontanero", an electrician "electricista", the boiler "caldera"; the building's "portero" or "administrador de fincas" can also help in a block of flats. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How do I ask someone to come and fix it in Spanish?

Say: "¿Puede mandar a alguien a revisarlo?" (Could you send someone to check it?)

How do I ask when they can come and how much it costs in Spanish?

Try: "¿Cuándo podrían venir?" (When could they come?) and "¿Cuánto costaría la reparación?" (How much would the repair cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Spanish, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

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firstphrases.app/survival/winter-home-problems/es/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint