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How to Say ‘It doesn't work’ in French

Ça ne marche pas

sah nuh marsh pah

[sah nuh marsh pah]

💬 Usage Tip: Marcher means "to walk" but also "to work" for machines. Ça ne marche pas covers anything broken, from a boiler to a phone.

Phrase Breakdown

Ça ne

sah nuh

It doesn't…

This is the start of the negation 'ne… pas'. Say 'sa-neu' quickly. 'Ça' has a soft 's' sound.

Example

Ça ne va pas.

It's not okay.

Words in this phrase

Ça

[sah]

that / it

Demonstrative pronoun used in everyday French to mean 'that' or 'it.'

Example

Ça me plaît quand une entreprise parle clairement.

I like it when a company speaks clearly.

ne

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

marche pas

marsh pah

…work

'Marcher' means 'to work' for machines. Say 'marsh-pa'. 'Pas' completes the negation.

Example

La radio marche bien.

The radio works well.

Words in this phrase

marche

[marsh]

works

From 'marcher' (to walk); in casual speech it means 'it works' or 'okay, deal'.

Example

Mon ordinateur ne marche plus.

My computer doesn't work anymore.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

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