#48 Business Trip Arrangements｜French Phrases for Business Conversations
Izumi French Garden
#120 Requesting a Watch Battery Replacement｜French Daily-Life Phrases
Izumi
When you use a wristwatch for a long time, the battery may eventually run out. In such cases, you will need to visit a watch shop or repair store to request a battery replacement.
When asking for a replacement, you will need to use basic request expressions, as well as explain the condition of the watch, confirm the price, and check how long the service will take.
In this article, I explain useful French phrases that will help you request a battery replacement naturally and effectively.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonjour, j’aimerais faire remplacer la pile de ma montre, s’il vous plaît.
（Hello, I would like to have the battery of my watch replaced, please.）
D’accord. Pourriez-vous me la montrer ?
（Certainly. Could you show it to me?）
Voilà. Elle s’est arrêtée hier soir.
（Here it is. It stopped working last night.）
Ce modèle n’est pas compliqué. Le remplacement prendra environ quinze minutes.
（This model is not complicated. The replacement will take about fifteen minutes.）
Est-ce que vous avez une estimation du prix ?
（Do you have an estimate of the price?）
Ce sera entre 15 et 20 euros, selon le type de pile.
（It will be between 15 and 20 euros, depending on the type of battery.）
Ça me va. Je repasserai dans une vingtaine de minutes.
（That works for me. I will come back in about twenty minutes.）
1. Requesting a Battery Replacement
When asking a shop to replace the battery of your watch, you can begin with:
- J’aimerais faire remplacer la pile de ma montre.
（I would like to have the battery of my watch replaced.）
Here, the structure “faire remplacer A” means “to have A replaced by someone,” emphasizing that the work is done by another person.
Another polite way to ask is:
- Pourriez-vous remplacer la pile ?
（Could you replace the battery for me?）
2. Explaining the Condition of the Watch
To help the staff understand the situation, describe when and how the watch stopped functioning.
- Elle s’est arrêtée hier soir.
（It stopped working last night.）
The verb s’arrêter (to stop) is used to describe the watch’s condition.
Other possible explanations:
- Elle ne fonctionne plus.
（It no longer works.） - La pile doit être usée.
（The battery seems to be worn out.）
3. Confirming the Required Time
Although a battery replacement usually takes a short time, confirming the duration helps you manage your schedule.
- Le remplacement prendra environ quinze minutes.
（The replacement will take about fifteen minutes.）
The expression “prendre + time” means “to take (a certain amount of time).”
To ask yourself:
- Combien de temps cela va-t-il prendre ?
（How long will it take?） - Est-ce que je peux attendre ici ?
（May I wait here?）
4. Asking About the Price
It is important to check the cost beforehand.
- Est-ce que vous avez une estimation du prix ?
（Do you have an estimate of the price?）
The word “estimation” allows you to ask for an approximate amount.
- Ce sera entre 15 et 20 euros, selon le type de pile.
（It will be between 15 and 20 euros, depending on the type of battery.）
The preposition “selon” (depending on) is useful in explanations.
To express a range, use “entre A et B.”
Additional questions:
- C’est un prix fixe ?
（Is it a fixed price?） - Y a-t-il un supplément ?
（Is there an additional charge?）
5. Confirming the Request and Stating Your Return Time
After confirming both cost and duration, finalize your request.
- Ça me va.
（That works for me.）
Though casual, this phrase is polite and widely used.
Then indicate when you will return:
- Je repasserai dans une vingtaine de minutes.
（I will come back in about twenty minutes.）
The verb “repasser” is commonly used to mean “come back again,” especially when picking up an item.
The expression “une vingtaine de minutes” means “around twenty minutes.”
Summary
- J’aimerais faire remplacer la pile de ma montre.
→ Basic expression for requesting a battery replacement. - Elle s’est arrêtée / Elle ne fonctionne plus.
→ Natural phrases for describing the watch’s condition. - Combien de temps cela va-t-il prendre ?
→ Essential question for confirming the required time. - Est-ce que vous avez une estimation du prix ?
→ Useful expression for asking about the estimated cost. - Je repasserai dans ～ / Ça me va.
→ Phrases used to confirm the request and indicate your return time.
