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Lesson 108 of 240

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Hotel problems in German

Priya's hotel room faces Berlin's U1 viaduct, and every passing train makes the room rattle.

The shower and hot water are not working either. Her room card fails, and then she finds herself locked out.

At the desk, Priya reports the problems and asks to change rooms. Anton, who promised her a quiet courtyard, is eating in the lobby.

Learn six useful lines for describing hotel problems politely.

By the end of this lesson

Report problems with a hotel room and politely ask to change rooms.

  • Das Zimmer ist zu laut.The room is too noisy.
  • Die Dusche funktioniert nicht.The shower isn't working.
  • Könnte ich das Zimmer wechseln?Could I change rooms?
  • Meine Zimmerkarte funktioniert nicht.My room key card isn't working.
  • Ich habe mich aus meinem Zimmer ausgesperrt.I've locked myself out of my room.
  • Es gibt kein Warmwasser.There's no hot water.

Scene — the noisy room

Priya is staying in a Berlin hotel near the U1 viaduct. Her room faces the tracks, and trains make the walls rattle.

At the reception desk, she reports several problems. Anton, who promised her a quiet courtyard, is eating in the lobby beside his unfinished Milchkaffee.

Priya approaches Renate at the hotel reception while Anton eats beside an unfinished Milchkaffee and a train passes outside.

Learn — report a room problem

These six lines help you describe noise, broken facilities, and access problems.

You can also ask politely to move to another room.

  1. Priya rests a hand against the hotel room window while a train passes close outside.

    Das Zimmer ist zu laut.

    The room is too noisy.

    When to use it: Use this to tell hotel staff that noise is a problem.

    Learn this short complaint as one piece.

  2. Priya turns the shower control, but no water comes from the showerhead.

    Die Dusche funktioniert nicht.

    The shower isn't working.

    When to use it: Use this to report a shower that does not work.

    Learn this sentence as one piece for reporting a broken shower.

  3. Priya makes a polite open-handed request to Renate across the reception desk.

    Könnte ich das Zimmer wechseln?

    Could I change rooms?

    When to use it: Use this polite question when you want a different room.

    Könnte makes this a polite way to ask for a change.

  4. Priya tests the room door handle beside an unresponsive electronic reader.

    Meine Zimmerkarte funktioniert nicht.

    My room key card isn't working.

    When to use it: Use this to tell staff that your room card is not working.

    Learn Zimmerkarte as one word for a hotel room card.

  5. Priya waits outside the closed hotel room with a hand resting on the handle.

    Ich habe mich aus meinem Zimmer ausgesperrt.

    I've locked myself out of my room.

    When to use it: Use this when you cannot get back into your room.

    Learn ausgesperrt as part of this whole sentence.

  6. Priya tests the running bathroom tap and draws a hand back from the cold water.

    Es gibt kein Warmwasser.

    There's no hot water.

    When to use it: Use this to report that the hot water is unavailable.

    Warmwasser is one noun for hot water.

Story — a room by the tracks

Priya goes to the hotel desk after hearing trains rattle her room and finding several things broken.

Anton is waiting in the lobby with food and his unfinished coffee. He had promised her a quiet courtyard.

  1. Hotel staffGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  2. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  3. PriyaWie geht es Ihnen?How are you?
  4. Hotel staffGut, danke. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?Good, thanks. How can I help you?
  5. PriyaDas Zimmer ist zu laut.The room is too noisy.
  6. Hotel staffOh, das tut mir leid. Ist noch etwas?Oh, I'm sorry. Is there anything else?
  7. PriyaDie Dusche funktioniert nicht.The shower isn't working.
  8. Hotel staffUnd das Wasser?And the water?
  9. PriyaEs gibt kein Warmwasser.There's no hot water.
  10. Hotel staffFunktioniert Ihre Zimmerkarte?Is your room card working?
  11. PriyaMeine Zimmerkarte funktioniert nicht.My room key card isn't working.
  12. Hotel staffKommen Sie nicht in Ihr Zimmer?Can't you get into your room?
  13. PriyaIch habe mich aus meinem Zimmer ausgesperrt.I've locked myself out of my room.
  14. AntonIch hatte dir einen ruhigen Innenhof versprochen.I had promised you a quiet courtyard.
  15. PriyaKönnte ich das Zimmer wechseln?Could I change rooms?
  16. Hotel staffJa, ich suche nach einem ruhigeren Zimmer.Yes, I'll look for a quieter room.

Practice — tell the desk

Practice reporting problems to hotel staff and asking for a room change.

Listen, build, fill gaps, and choose the line that fits the moment.

0 of 9 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    The shower in your hotel room does not work. Tell the person at the desk.

  3. Pick the reply

    Hotel staff says:

    Wir haben vielleicht noch ein Zimmer zum Innenhof frei.

    We may still have a room facing the courtyard.

    And you reply with:

  4. Build the line

    My room key card isn't working.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  5. Fill the gap

    There's no hot water.

    Es gibt kein ____.

  6. Swap the word

    Trains rattle your room, and you want to report the noise.

    Das Zimmer ist zu ____.

  7. What does it mean?

    Ich habe mich aus meinem Zimmer ausgesperrt.

  8. Find the mistake

  9. What do you say?

    You have just greeted hotel staff politely. Ask how they are.

Say it — ask for help

Imagine you are Priya at the hotel desk. Report the room problems clearly and ask about moving to a quieter room.

Tap the microphone when it is your turn to speak. You can listen first, and your recording stays on your device.

  1. Hotel staffGuten Tag. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?Good afternoon. How can I help you?
  2. Priya (you)Tell the staff member the room is too noisy.

    Das Zimmer ist zu laut.

    The room is too noisy.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Das Zimmer ist zu laut.The room is too noisy.
Die Dusche funktioniert nicht.The shower isn't working.
Könnte ich das Zimmer wechseln?Could I change rooms?
Meine Zimmerkarte funktioniert nicht.My room key card isn't working.
Ich habe mich aus meinem Zimmer ausgesperrt.I've locked myself out of my room.
Es gibt kein Warmwasser.There's no hot water.
Next: lesson 109Where it hurts

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these hotel problem phrases handy with the Yak Cards for this lesson.

Review the Yak Cards before your next hotel stay so you can report a problem with confidence.

Open Yak Cards