How to Say ‘But today the card machine isn't working.’ in Spain Spanish
Pero hoy el datáfono no funciona.
peh-roh oy el dah-TAH-foh-noh noh foon-syoh-nah
[peh-roh oy el dah-TAH-foh-noh noh foon-syoh-nah]
🇪🇸 In Spain: [Datáfono] is very Spain-specific and is exactly what you're likely to hear from a taxi driver there. If card payment matters, many locals ask before setting off because "the machine isn't working" does happen.
Phrase Breakdown
Pero hoy
peh-roh oy
but today
Introduces a contrast with the usual situation.
Normalmente sí, pero hoy no.
Usually yes, but today no.
Words in this phrase
Pero
[peh-roh]
but
Common conjunction used to introduce contrast or a problem.
Quería pagar con tarjeta, pero hoy el conductor dice que no puede cobrar así.
I wanted to pay by card, but today the driver says he cannot charge that way.
hoy
[oy]
today
Time expression meaning on this day, right now.
Hoy el trayecto termina aquí y hoy no llevo suficiente efectivo.
Today the trip ends here and today I am not carrying enough cash.
El datáfono
el dah-TAH-foh-noh
the card machine / card reader
Device used to process card payments in Spain.
El datáfono está roto.
The card machine is broken.
Words in this phrase
el
[el]
the
Masculine singular definite article used before a noun.
El taxista explica que el cobro será por Bizum.
The taxi driver explains that the payment will be by Bizum.
datáfono
[dah-TAH-foh-noh]
card machine
In Spain, datáfono means the device used to charge by bank card.
El datáfono está encendido, pero no procesa el pago.
The card machine is on, but it does not process the payment.
No funciona
noh foon-syoh-nah
doesn't work
Common phrase for something not operating properly.
Hoy no funciona el internet.
The internet isn't working today.
Words in this phrase
no
[noh]
not / doesn't
Negation placed before the verb to make the sentence negative.
No puedo pagar con tarjeta si no hay señal.
I cannot pay by card if there is no signal.
funciona
[foon-syoh-nah]
works / is working
Used for devices or systems that operate correctly.
Si el sistema funciona, pago enseguida con el móvil.
If the system works, I will pay right away with my phone.
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