#189 Asking How Long a Repair Will Take｜French Daily Life Phrases

When you take items such as a smartphone, watch, shoes, or electronic devices for repair abroad, it is important to confirm how long the repair will take.

This is especially important if you are traveling or staying for a short period, as not knowing the completion timing may affect your schedule.

In this section, I will explain French expressions you can use to confirm repair timeframes, following the flow of a natural conversation.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. Je viens déposer cet appareil pour réparation.
（Hello. I would like to leave this device for repair.）

B

Très bien. Nous allons vérifier le problème.
（Certainly. We will check the issue.）

A

J’aimerais savoir combien de temps la réparation prendra environ.
（I would like to know approximately how long the repair will take.）

B

En général, cela prend entre trois et cinq jours ouvrables.
（In general, it takes between three and five business days.）

A

D’accord. Et est-ce que vous me contacterez quand ce sera prêt ?
（I see. And will you contact me when it is ready?）

B

Oui, nous vous enverrons un message dès que ce sera terminé.
（Yes, we will send you a message as soon as it is finished.）

A

C’est compris. Merci beaucoup pour ces informations.
（Understood. Thank you very much for the information.）

1. Asking About the Repair Timeframe

When you want to ask about repair time, you can use the following expression.

In this sentence, instead of placing a direct question after “J’aimerais savoir …” (I would like to know …), the question is embedded using an indirect question structure beginning with “combien de temps.”

Although “combien de temps” means “how much time,” it functions here as part of a noun clause rather than a direct question.

Also, the structure “prendre + duration” means “to take (time).” Using the simple future form “prendra” expresses the idea that the repair will take a certain amount of time in the future.

You may also hear the near future form (aller + infinitive):

The form “va prendre” is very common in spoken French, while “prendra” sounds slightly more formal but is still natural in conversation.

2. Receiving an Explanation of the Repair Duration

Because repair time often depends on parts availability and the condition of the device, repair shops usually provide an estimated range.

The expression “En général” means “generally” or “in most cases.” By placing it at the beginning of the sentence, the speaker implies that the timeframe may vary depending on the situation.

Here, “cela” refers to the repair process and its expected duration as a whole. In everyday conversation, “ça” is often used instead.

The structure “entre + number A + et + number B” expresses a range.

Because “entre” is a preposition, it is followed by a noun phrase that functions as a time expression.

3. Confirming the Contact Method After Completion

To make the pickup process smooth, I recommend confirming how you will be contacted once the repair is finished.

In “vous me contacterez,” the simple future form is used because you are asking about an action that will occur in the future.

It is also useful to understand the nuance compared with the near future form:

In repair shop situations, the simple future is often more appropriate because the exact completion time is not always certain.

Also, “contacter” is a transitive verb. The pronoun “me” functions as a direct object pronoun, even though in English it may seem like an indirect object.

Summary