First Phrases

Winter home problems · Italiano

Winter home problems phrases in Italian: 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 "Lei" with the landlord ("proprietario" or "padrone di casa"), the agency ("agenzia") and tradespeople, and start with "Buongiorno". A plumber is "idraulico", an electrician "elettricista", the boiler "caldaia"; in a block of flats the "amministratore di condominio" is often the contact. Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Il riscaldamento non funziona.
    Say it like: eel ree-skal-dah-MEN-toh non foon-TSYOH-nah
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "da ieri" (since yesterday).
  2. 02Neutral
    Non abbiamo acqua calda.
    Say it like: non ab-BYAH-moh AK-kwah KAL-dah
    We have no hot water.
    Register: Say "Non ho" if you live alone.
  3. 03Neutral
    Il termosifone perde acqua.
    Say it like: eel ter-moh-see-FOH-neh PER-deh AK-kwah
    The radiator is leaking.
    Register: Also "Il calorifero" or "il radiatore" for the radiator.
  4. 04Neutral
    La caldaia segna un errore.
    Say it like: lah kal-DAH-yah SEH-nyah oon er-ROH-reh
    The boiler shows an error.
    Register: Read out the code: "Il codice è E 14."
  5. 05Neutral
    È saltata la luce.
    Say it like: eh sal-TAH-tah lah LOO-cheh
    The power has tripped.
    Register: Also "È andata via la corrente" (the power went out).
  6. 06Neutral
    Un tubo si è congelato.
    Say it like: oon TOO-boh see eh kon-jeh-LAH-toh
    A pipe has frozen.
    Register: Also "Le tubature sono ghiacciate".
  7. 07Neutral
    C'è muffa e umidità sulla parete.
    Say it like: cheh MOOF-fah eh oo-mee-dee-TAH SOOL-lah pah-REH-teh
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Muffa" is mould, "umidità" damp.
  8. 08Neutral
    La finestra non chiude bene.
    Say it like: lah fee-NEH-strah non KYOO-deh BEH-neh
    The window doesn't close properly.
    Register: Add "e entra aria" (and air comes in).
  9. 09Polite
    Può mandare qualcuno a controllare?
    Say it like: pwoh man-DAH-reh kwal-KOO-noh ah kon-trol-LAH-reh
    Could you send someone to check?
    Register: Use it with the landlord or the agency.
  10. 10Polite
    Vorrei prenotare un idraulico o un elettricista.
    Say it like: vor-RAY preh-noh-TAH-reh oon ee-DROW-lee-koh oh oon eh-let-tree-CHEE-stah
    I'd like to book a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: Also "Vorrei fissare un appuntamento con..." (I'd like to set an appointment with...).
  11. 11Polite
    Quando possono venire?
    Say it like: KWAN-doh POS-so-noh veh-NEE-reh
    When can they come?
    Register: Add "oggi" (today) or "domani" (tomorrow).
  12. 12Polite
    Quanto costerà l'intervento?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh kos-teh-RAH lin-ter-VEN-toh
    How much will the job cost?
    Register: Also "Può farmi un preventivo?" (can you give me a quote?).
  13. 13Polite
    Può farmi una fattura, per favore?
    Say it like: pwoh FAR-mee OO-nah fat-TOO-rah per fah-VOH-reh
    Could you give me an invoice, please?
    Register: "Fattura" is an invoice, "ricevuta" a receipt.
  14. 14Neutral
    È urgente.
    Say it like: eh oor-JEN-teh
    It's urgent.
    Register: Add "per favore" to keep it polite.
  15. 15Neutral
    Ho un bambino piccolo e fa molto freddo.
    Say it like: oh oon bam-BEE-noh PEEK-koh-loh eh fah MOL-toh FRED-doh
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "un neonato" or "un bebè".

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Quick answers

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

Say: "Il riscaldamento non funziona." (The heating isn't working.)

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

Use "Lei" with the landlord ("proprietario" or "padrone di casa"), the agency ("agenzia") and tradespeople, and start with "Buongiorno". A plumber is "idraulico", an electrician "elettricista", the boiler "caldaia"; in a block of flats the "amministratore di condominio" is often the 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 Italian?

Say: "Può mandare qualcuno a controllare?" (Could you send someone to check?)

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

Try: "Quando possono venire?" (When can they come?) and "Quanto costerà l'intervento?" (How much will the job cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Italian, 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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