Telling my landlord the hot water is broken: Scheduling a plumber for repair
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Key Phrases
J'ai un petit problème.
I have a small problem.
L'eau chaude ne marche plus.
The hot water is not working anymore.
Il peut venir quand ?
When can he come?
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 and the water is cold.
Dire qu'il n'y a plus d'eau chaude et que l'eau est froide.
Ask about the timing of a plumber's visit.
Demander à quel moment un plombier peut venir.
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling your landlord or apartment manager in France to report that the hot water has stopped working, and you are discussing the problem and arranging for a plumber to come.
Bonjour, j'ai un petit problème à l'appartement.
Hello, I have a small problem at 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, je suis désolé. Il n'y a plus d'eau chaude du tout ?
Oh no, I'm sorry. Is there no hot water at all?
Non, l'eau est froide dans la douche et dans la cuisine.
No, the water is cold in the shower and in the kitchen.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Bonjour.
bohn-ZHOOR
Hello.
J'ai
zh ay
I have
💬 [J'] only appears joined to the next word: here [j'ai]. Before a vowel sound, [je] shortens to [j'], so it can't stand alone.
See breakdown →Un petit problème
uhn puh-TEE proh-BLEM
A small problem
J'ai un petit problème.
zh ay uhn puh-TEE proh-BLEM
I have a small problem.
À
ah
At / to
L'appartement
l ah-par-tuh-MAHN
The apartment
💬 [L'] only appears attached to the next word, as in [l'appartement]. Before a vowel sound, [le] becomes [l'], so it can't stand alone.
See breakdown →À l'appartement
ah l ah-par-tuh-MAHN
At the apartment
Qu'est-ce
k eh suh
What is
💬 [Qu'est-ce] is a fixed chunk used to ask [what... ?], as in [Qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?] or [Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ?]. Learn it as one piece rather than word by word.
See breakdown →Qu'il y a
keel eel ee ah
There is / there are
💬 [Qu'] only appears joined to the next word: here [qu'il]. Before a vowel sound, [que] shortens to [qu'], so it can't stand alone.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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