Phone Problems in French: Simple Troubleshooting Phrases
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
When your phone stops working, you need a few short sentences fast. This guide teaches the exact lines from Vocalyra Français episode #014, Un problème de téléphone, where Emma's screen is black and Ben helps her fix it.
Saying Something Is Not Working
Ne marche pas is the everyday way to say a device is not working. Ne fonctionne pas means the same but sounds more formal.
- Mon téléphone ne marche pas. (My phone isn't working.)
- L'Ă©cran est noir. (The screen is black.)
- Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ? (What's wrong?)
Battery and Charging Words
Ben's first question is about the battery. These words cover most simple charging problems.
- la batterie (the battery)
- La batterie est chargée ? (Is the battery charged?)
- brancher (to plug in), charger (to charge)
- l'Ă©cran (the screen), le bouton (the button)
- allumer (to turn on), Ă©teindre (to turn off)
Giving Simple Instructions
Ben speaks to a friend, so he uses the tu imperative: branche-le (plug it in) and appuie (press). With a shop assistant you would hear vous: branchez-le, appuyez.
- Branche-le pendant vingt minutes. (Plug it in for twenty minutes.)
- Ensuite je l'allume ? (Then I turn it on?)
- Appuie sur le bouton sur le côté. (Press the side button.)
In branche-le, le replaces le téléphone and comes after the verb with a hyphen. In je l'allume, the same le goes before the verb and becomes l'.
The Full Dialogue
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Ben, mon téléphone ne marche pas. | Ben, my phone isn't working. |
| Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ? | What's wrong? |
| L'Ă©cran est noir. | The screen is black. |
| La batterie est chargée ? | Is the battery charged? |
| Je ne crois pas. | I don't think so. |
| Branche-le pendant vingt minutes. | Plug it in for twenty minutes. |
| D'accord. Ensuite je l'allume ? | OK. Then I turn it on? |
| Oui, appuie sur le bouton sur le côté. | Yes, press the side button. |
Listen to episode #014 on the Vocalyra podcast page and answer the three questions under the player. Then describe a real problem with your own phone in one French sentence.
Quick self-check
What is wrong with the phone?
Show answer
L'Ă©cran est noir.
What should Emma do first?
Show answer
Le brancher.
How long should she charge it?
Show answer
Vingt minutes.
Source: Vocalyra Français podcast episode #014, the beginner phone-problem conversation this guide is based on. Listen to episode #014
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