Telling my landlord the hot water is broken: Explaining the problem
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Key Phrases
J'ai un petit problème à l'appartement.
I have a small problem with the apartment.
L'eau chaude ne marche plus.
The hot water is not working anymore.
Je peux passer cet après-midi pour regarder.
I can come by this afternoon to take a look.
Skills You'll Learn
Explain a maintenance problem in an apartment.
Expliquer un problème d'entretien dans un appartement.
Describe that hot water is unavailable in different rooms.
Décrire que l'eau chaude ne fonctionne pas dans différentes pièces.
Arrange a visit for someone to inspect the issue.
Organiser une visite pour qu'une personne vienne vérifier le problème.
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling your landlord or building manager in France to report that the hot water in your apartment has stopped working, and you explain the problem while arranging a visit to check it.
Bonjour, j'ai un petit problème à l'appartement.
Hello, I have a small problem with the apartment.
Bonjour Emily , qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?
Hello Emily, what's the matter?
L'eau chaude ne marche plus depuis ce matin.
The hot water hasn’t been working since this morning.
Ah mince, il n'y a plus d'eau chaude du tout ?
Oh no, there's no hot water at all?
Oui, l'eau reste froide dans la cuisine et la salle de bain.
Yes, the water stays cold in the kitchen and the bathroom.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Bonjour.
bohn-ZHOOR
Hello.
Ai
ay
Have
Un petit problème
uhn puh-TEE proh-BLEM
A small problem
J'ai un petit problème.
zhay ay uhn puh-TEE proh-BLEM
I have a small problem.
À
ah
At / in
L'appartement
l ah-par-tuh-MAHN
The apartment
💬 [L'] only appears joined to the next word, as in [l'appartement]. Never alone.
See breakdown →À l'appartement
ah l ah-par-tuh-MAHN
With the apartment
Qu'est-ce
k ay suh
What
💬 [Qu'est-ce que ... ?] is a very common way to ask [what ... ?]. You can reuse the pattern: [Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ?] = [What do you want?]
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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