First Phrases

Winter home problems · Français

Winter home problems phrases in French: 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 "vous" with the landlord ("le propriétaire" or "le bailleur"), the agency ("l'agence") and tradespeople, and start with "Bonjour". A plumber is "un plombier", an electrician "un électricien", the boiler "la chaudière". In a block of flats the "gardien" or "syndic" may be the first contact. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Le chauffage ne marche pas.
    Say it like: luh shoh-FAZH nuh marsh pah
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "depuis hier" (since yesterday). "Ne fonctionne pas" is a bit more formal.
  2. 02Neutral
    Nous n'avons plus d'eau chaude.
    Say it like: noo na-VON plew doh SHOHD
    We have no more hot water.
    Register: "Plus d'eau chaude" = no hot water left.
  3. 03Neutral
    Le radiateur fuit.
    Say it like: luh ra-dya-TUR fwee
    The radiator is leaking.
    Register: Also "Il y a une fuite au radiateur".
  4. 04Neutral
    La chaudière affiche un code d'erreur.
    Say it like: lah shoh-DYAIR a-FEESH un kod deh-RUR
    The boiler shows an error code.
    Register: Read out the code: "Le code, c'est E 14."
  5. 05Neutral
    Nous avons une coupure de courant.
    Say it like: noo za-VON ewn koo-PEWR duh koo-RAHN
    We have a power cut.
    Register: Also "On n'a plus d'électricité".
  6. 06Neutral
    Un tuyau a gelé.
    Say it like: un twee-YOH a zhuh-LAY
    A pipe has frozen.
    Register: Also "Une canalisation a gelé".
  7. 07Neutral
    Il y a de la moisissure et de l'humidité sur le mur.
    Say it like: eel ee a duh lah mwa-zee-ZEWR ay duh lew-mee-dee-TAY sewr luh mewr
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Des traces d'humidité" = damp marks.
  8. 08Neutral
    La fenêtre ne ferme pas bien.
    Say it like: lah fuh-NETR nuh ferm pah byan
    The window doesn't close properly.
    Register: Add "et il y a des courants d'air" (and there are draughts).
  9. 09Polite
    Pouvez-vous envoyer quelqu'un pour voir ça ?
    Say it like: poo-vay-VOO ahn-vwa-YAY kel-KUN poor vwar sah
    Can you send someone to take a look?
    Register: Use it with the landlord or the agency.
  10. 10Polite
    Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous avec un plombier ou un électricien.
    Say it like: zhuh voo-DRAY prahndr rahn-day-VOO a-VEK un plom-BYAY oo un ay-lek-tree-SYAN
    I'd like to book a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: "Prendre rendez-vous" = to book an appointment.
  11. 11Polite
    Quand pourriez-vous passer ?
    Say it like: kahn poo-ree-ay-VOO pa-SAY
    When could you come by?
    Register: For a third person: "Quand peut-il passer ?" (when can he come?).
  12. 12Neutral
    Combien ça va coûter ?
    Say it like: kom-BYAN sah va koo-TAY
    How much will it cost?
    Register: Also "Vous pouvez me faire un devis ?" (can you give me a quote?).
  13. 13Polite
    Pouvez-vous me faire une facture, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: poo-vay-VOO muh fair ewn fak-TEWR seel voo PLAY
    Can you give me an invoice, please?
    Register: "Une facture" is an invoice; "un reçu" a simple receipt.
  14. 14Neutral
    C'est urgent.
    Say it like: seht ewr-ZHAHN
    It's urgent.
    Register: Add "s'il vous plaît" to keep it polite.
  15. 15Neutral
    J'ai un enfant en bas âge et il fait très froid.
    Say it like: zhay un ahn-FAHN ahn bah-ZAZH ay eel fay tray FRWA
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "J'ai un bébé".

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Quick answers

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

Say: "Le chauffage ne marche pas." (The heating isn't working.)

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

Use "vous" with the landlord ("le propriétaire" or "le bailleur"), the agency ("l'agence") and tradespeople, and start with "Bonjour". A plumber is "un plombier", an electrician "un électricien", the boiler "la chaudière". In a block of flats the "gardien" or "syndic" may be the first contact. 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 French?

Say: "Pouvez-vous envoyer quelqu'un pour voir ça ?" (Can you send someone to take a look?)

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

Try: "Quand pourriez-vous passer ?" (When could you come by?) and "Combien ça va coûter ?" (How much will it cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

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French, 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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