#284 Requesting Smartphone Repairs｜French Daily Life Phrases

Smartphones have become an essential part of daily life. In addition to communication, you may use your phone for navigation, payments, photography, and many other activities. However, unexpected problems such as a cracked screen or battery issues can occur at any time.

If your smartphone stops working while you are traveling, studying abroad, or living in a French-speaking country, you may need to explain the problem and request repairs at a repair shop.

In this article, I will explain useful French expressions that can help you request smartphone repairs, along with important grammar points.

Dialogue

A

Mon smartphone ne fonctionne plus correctement.
（My smartphone is no longer functioning properly.）

B

Quel est le problème exactement ?
（What exactly seems to be the problem?）

A

L’écran est cassé et le téléphone ne charge plus.
（The screen is cracked, and the phone no longer charges.）

B

Je vois. Nous pouvons examiner l’appareil.
（I see. We can examine the device.）

A

Combien coûtera la réparation ？
（How much will the repair cost?）

B

La réparation coûtera environ 80 euros.
（The repair will cost approximately 80 euros.）

A

Très bien. Merci pour votre aide.
（All right. Thank you for your help.）

1. Explaining That Your Phone Is Not Working Properly

When you visit a repair shop, I recommend first explaining that there is a problem with your smartphone.

Even if you do not know the exact cause of the issue, being able to say that the phone is not working properly will help the staff understand the situation.

The verb “fonctionner” means “to function” or “to operate.” It is commonly used when talking about machines, electronic devices, or systems that work correctly.

The structure “ne … plus” means “no longer” or “not anymore.” By using this expression, you indicate that the phone used to work properly but no longer does.

The adverb “correctement” means “properly” or “correctly.” Therefore, “ne fonctionne plus correctement” means that the device is no longer operating normally.

You can use this expression for a wide range of situations, from minor issues to serious malfunctions.

2. Describing the Specific Problem

When requesting repairs, it is helpful to explain exactly what is broken or which functions are no longer working.

The word “cassé” means “broken” or “cracked.” Although it is originally the past participle of “casser” (to break), it functions as an adjective here.

While “L’écran est cassé” literally means “The screen is broken,” it is often more natural to translate it as “The screen is cracked” when referring to smartphones.

The verb “charger” means “to charge.” When used with a device as the subject, it indicates that the device is charging.

By adding “ne … plus,” you express that the phone used to charge normally but no longer does.

3. Asking About Repair Costs

Before agreeing to a repair, I recommend confirming the expected cost.

The interrogative adverb “combien” means “how much” or “how many” and is commonly used when asking about prices or costs.

The verb “coûtera” is the simple future form of “coûter” (to cost). Since the subject is “la réparation” (the repair), the verb appears in the third-person singular form.

The use of the simple future gives the meaning of “How much will the repair cost?” and is commonly used when requesting an estimate from a repair shop.

Summary