#35 Buying a SIM Card｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi French Garden
#134 Explaining a Power Outage｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi
When a sudden power outage occurs at home or at your accommodation, it is important to explain the situation clearly to the property management company or staff.
When describing the issue in French, it is essential to remain calm, explain the scope of the problem, and request appropriate assistance.
In this article, I explain useful French expressions for situations where you need to report and explain a power outage.
Contents
Dialogue
Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais il y a une panne d’électricité dans mon appartement.
（Excuse me for bothering you, but there is a power outage in my apartment.）
D’accord. Est-ce que toute la lumière est coupée ?
（I see. Is all the lighting cut off?）
Oui, plus rien ne fonctionne.
（Yes, nothing is working.）
Savez-vous si vos voisins ont le même problème ?
（Do you know if your neighbors are experiencing the same problem?）
Oui, tout l’immeuble est sans électricité.
（Yes, the entire building is without electricity.）
Nous allons envoyer un technicien dès que possible.
（We will send a technician as soon as possible.）
Merci beaucoup. Savez-vous combien de temps cela pourrait durer ?
（Thank you very much. Do you know how long this might last?）
Pour l’instant, il est difficile de le dire, mais nous vous tiendrons informé.
（At the moment, it is difficult to say, but we will keep you informed.）
1. Reporting the Occurrence of a Problem
When explaining a problem, the first step is to state clearly what has happened.
Example
- Il y a une panne d’électricité.
（There is a power outage.）
The noun “panne” means a breakdown or malfunction. The expression “panne d’électricité” specifically refers to a power outage.
Related Expressions
- Nous n’avons plus d’électricité.
（We no longer have electricity.） - Il n’y a plus de courant.
（There is no power supply.）
Both expressions are calm and appropriate ways to report a power outage. The former emphasizes that electricity is no longer usable, while the latter focuses on the interruption of supply.
2. Explaining the Situation Caused by the Outage
Next, it is helpful to explain what is no longer functioning due to the outage. This allows the other party to understand the severity of the situation.
Example
- Plus rien ne fonctionne.
（Nothing is working.）
The phrase “plus rien” means “nothing at all,” and the verb “fonctionner” means “to function” or “to operate.” Together, they indicate that all electrical devices are unusable.
Related Expressions
- Même la lumière ne s’allume pas.
（Even the lights do not turn on.） - Les appareils ne marchent plus.
（The appliances are no longer working.）
Providing concrete examples makes the situation clearer and easier to assess.
3. Confirming the Scope of the Power Outage
To determine the appropriate response, it is important to clarify whether the outage affects only one apartment or the entire building.
Example
- Tout l’immeuble est sans électricité.
（The entire building is without electricity.）
Explaining that you have checked other areas helps the management company understand the scale of the issue.
Example
- J’ai vérifié avec mes voisins.
（I checked with my neighbors.） - Le problème ne concerne pas seulement mon appartement.
（The problem does not affect only my apartment.）
4. Asking About the Response and Restoration
After reporting the situation, you can confirm what action will be taken and ask about the expected recovery time.
Example
- Nous allons envoyer un technicien dès que possible.
（We will send a technician as soon as possible.）
It is also reassuring to ask for an estimated timeframe.
Question Example
- Savez-vous combien de temps cela pourrait durer ?
（Do you know how long this might last?）
Possible Responses
- Il est difficile de le dire pour le moment.
（It is difficult to say at the moment.） - Nous vous tiendrons informé.
（We will keep you informed.）
Understanding these expressions helps you stay calm while waiting for the situation to be resolved.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Il y a une panne d’électricité.
→ Used to report that a power outage has occurred. - Plus rien ne fonctionne / Nous n’avons plus d’électricité.
→ Used to explain that electricity is no longer available. - Tout l’immeuble est sans électricité.
→ Used to indicate that the outage affects the entire building. - Pourriez-vous envoyer un technicien ?
→ A polite expression for requesting assistance. - Savez-vous combien de temps cela pourrait durer ?
→ Used to ask about the expected duration of the outage.
