#267 Talking About Audio Problems During an Online Meeting｜French Business Phrases

During online meetings, unexpected audio problems can sometimes occur, such as not being able to hear the other person or having a microphone that does not work properly.

If a problem arises, it is important to stay calm, explain the issue clearly, and ask the other person to check their settings if necessary.

In this article, I will explain useful French expressions for dealing with audio problems during online meetings, based on a realistic conversation example.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, je crois qu’il y a un problème de son.
（Excuse me, I think there may be an audio problem.）

B

Ah bon ? Vous ne m’entendez pas ?
（Oh really? Can you not hear me?）

A

Je vous entends à peine, le son coupe souvent.
（I can barely hear you. The audio keeps cutting out.）

B

D’accord, je vais vérifier mon micro. Est-ce mieux maintenant ?
（I see. I will check my microphone. Is it better now?）

A

Oui, c’est beaucoup mieux. Merci.
（Yes, it is much better. Thank you.）

B

Parfait, on peut continuer la réunion.
（Great. We can continue the meeting.）

1. Explaining That a Problem Has Occurred

When an audio issue occurs during an online meeting, the first step is to calmly share the situation with the other person.

The phrase “excusez-moi” means “excuse me” or “sorry to interrupt.” It is often used as a polite opening before bringing up a problem.

You will also notice the expression “je crois que ～,” which means “I think that ～.” Although “croire” originally means “to believe,” in conversation it is frequently used to express an opinion in a softer and less direct way.

The phrase “il y a ～” simply means “there is / there are.” Here, it is combined with “un problème de son” (an audio problem) to explain the situation.

2. Explaining the Situation More Specifically

After mentioning the problem, you should explain what exactly is happening.

The verb “entendre” means “to hear” and refers to sound reaching your ears passively.

You may also know the verb “écouter,” which means “to listen.” However, “écouter” implies active listening, while “entendre” describes simply being able to hear something. For this reason, it is important to distinguish between the two.

The phrase “à peine” means “barely” or “hardly.” When combined with “entendre,” it expresses a situation where you can hear something, but only with difficulty.

The expression “le son coupe souvent” means “the audio keeps cutting out.”

Although “couper” normally means “to cut,” it is commonly used in the context of audio or internet connections to describe interruptions.

The adverb “souvent” (often) adds more detail by explaining that the problem happens frequently.

3. Asking the Other Person to Check Their Settings

In the conversation example, the other person checks their microphone and then asks whether the problem has improved.

The phrase “je vais vérifier” uses the structure “aller + infinitive,” which is known as the near future tense.

This structure is used to express actions that are about to happen or immediate intentions. In this example, it conveys the idea of “I will check my microphone right away.”

The question “Est-ce mieux maintenant ?” means “Is it better now?” and is used to confirm whether the audio has improved.

One important point to remember is the difference between “mieux” and “meilleur.”

Summary