New here? This is lesson 106 of a free 240-lesson French course.
Hotel problems in French
Sam is in a small hotel near the station. His room faces the street, so the noise never stops, and the air conditioning is dead.
At reception he reports both problems, asks to change rooms, and asks for towels.
Later the door clicks shut behind him. He has to tell staff he cannot get back in.
By the end of this lesson
Report a room problem and ask hotel staff to fix it.
- Il y a un problème avec ___.There's a problem with ___.
- La chambre est trop bruyante.The room is too noisy.
- La climatisation ne marche pas.The air conditioning isn't working.
- Est-ce que je pourrais changer de chambre ?Could I change rooms?
- Vous pouvez me donner des serviettes ?Could I have some towels?
- Je ne peux plus entrer dans ma chambre.I can't get back into my room.
Scene — the street-facing room
Sam is at a small hotel near the station, a few metro stops from rue des Tilleuls. His room faces the street.
The next morning he comes down to the desk. The air con is dead, and he still has no towels. The receptionist looks up.
Learn — noise, air con, towels
Six lines for the desk: name a problem, say the room is noisy, and say the air con is dead.
You also ask to move, ask for towels, and say you are locked out.
Il y a un problème avec ___.
There's a problem with ___.
When to use it: Use this at reception to name what is wrong.
Put the thing that is wrong after avec.
Say it: The un in un is a nasal sound.
La chambre est trop bruyante.
The room is too noisy.
When to use it: Say this when street noise keeps you awake.
Bruyante takes an e because chambre is feminine.
La climatisation ne marche pas.
The air conditioning isn't working.
When to use it: Say this when the air conditioning does not work.
Keep ne and pas around the verb for does not work.
Say it: The s in pas is silent.
Est-ce que je pourrais changer de chambre ?
Could I change rooms?
When to use it: Ask this of hotel staff when you want another room.
Hotel staff get vous; this is a polite request.
Say it: The t in Est is silent in Est-ce.
Vous pouvez me donner des serviettes ?
Could I have some towels?
When to use it: Ask staff this when you need more towels.
Des goes with a plural, like towels.
Je ne peux plus entrer dans ma chambre.
I can't get back into my room.
When to use it: Say this at reception when you cannot get back into your room.
Ne plus together means you cannot do it any more.
Say it: In ne ... plus, the s of plus is usually silent: say 'plu'.
Story — the door clicks shut
Watch Sam at the hotel desk. He names two problems, then the door shuts him out.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Morning light hits the desk. A scooter passes outside.
- ReceptionBonjour.Hello.
SamBonjour. Il y a un problème avec la chambre.Hello. There's a problem with the room.- ReceptionJe vous écoute.I'm listening.
- SamLa chambre est trop bruyante.The room is too noisy.
- ReceptionOui, elle donne sur la rue.Yes, it faces the street.
- SamLa climatisation ne marche pas.The air conditioning isn't working.
- ReceptionJe m'en occupe.I'll take care of it.
- SamEst-ce que je pourrais changer de chambre ?Could I change rooms?
- ReceptionOui, on a une chambre sur cour.Yes, we have a room on the courtyard.
- SamVous pouvez me donner des serviettes ?Could I have some towels?
- ReceptionOui, voilà.Yes, here you are.
- SamMerci.Thank you.
- Later, in the corridor, the door has clicked shut.
- SamExcusez-moi. Je ne peux plus entrer dans ma chambre.Excuse me. I can't get back into my room.
- ReceptionJ'arrive tout de suite.I'll be right there.
Practice — tell the desk
Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Reception says:
Pick the reply
Bonjour.
Hello.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The room is too noisy.
La chambre est trop ____.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
La climatisation ne marche pas.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want another room. Ask staff in a polite way.
Est-ce que je ____ changer de chambre ?
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Build the line
Build the line
I can't get back into my room.
.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The receptionist is looking at a screen. Get their attention with a polite excuse-me.
True or false?
True or false?
You use this at the desk to name what is wrong.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Staff just handed you extra towels at the desk.
Say it — at the desk
Now you're Sam at the hotel desk. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- ReceptionOui, je vous écoute.Yes, I'm listening.
- Sam (you)Tell the desk the room is too noisy.
Tell the desk the room is too noisy.
La chambre est trop bruyante.
The room is too noisy.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| French | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Il y a un problème avec ___. | There's a problem with ___. | |
| La chambre est trop bruyante. | The room is too noisy. | |
| La climatisation ne marche pas. | The air conditioning isn't working. | |
| Est-ce que je pourrais changer de chambre ? | Could I change rooms? | |
| Vous pouvez me donner des serviettes ? | Could I have some towels? | |
| Je ne peux plus entrer dans ma chambre. | I can't get back into my room. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Need these hotel lines in your pocket? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the desk lines ready for reception.
Open Yak Cards