DIY and repairs
Vocabulary
- bricolerto do DIY
- réparerto repair
- un outila tool
- un tournevisa screwdriver
- un marteaua hammer
- une perceusea drill
- une fuitea leak
- une pannea breakdown
- un plombiera plumber
- un électricienan electrician
- une prisean electrical outlet
This lesson covers vocabulary for home repairs and uses the imperative and *il faut* structures.
L'impératif gives instructions: *Prends le tournevis* (Take the screwdriver), *Appelez le plombier* (Call the plumber). Remember: for -er verbs in the *tu* form, drop the final -s: *Regarde* (not *Regardes*).
Il faut + infinitif expresses necessity: *Il faut réparer la fuite* (The leak needs to be fixed). This is impersonal and very common.
Il faut + noun also works: *Il faut un marteau* (We need a hammer).
Describing problems:
- *Ça ne marche plus* (It doesn't work anymore)
- *C'est cassé* (It's broken)
- *Il y a une fuite d'eau* (There's a water leak)
- *La prise ne fonctionne pas* (The outlet doesn't work)
Calling a professional: *Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous avec un plombier* (I'd like to make an appointment with a plumber). In France, finding a *plombier* or *électricien* often goes through word of mouth or websites like *leboncoin.fr*.
Expressions
- Ça ne marche plusIt doesn't work anymore
- C'est casséIt's broken
- Il y a une fuiteThere's a leak
- J'ai besoin d'un coup de mainI need a hand
- Il faut changer l'ampouleThe lightbulb needs changing
- Tu as un tournevis ?Do you have a screwdriver?
- Je vais appeler un professionnelI'm going to call a professional
Common mistakes
Regardes la fuite !Regarde la fuite !In the imperative tu form, -er verbs drop the final -s: Regarde, not Regardes.
Il faut que réparer la fuite.Il faut réparer la fuite.Il faut + infinitive does not need que. Use que only with subjunctive: Il faut que tu répares.
Le prise ne marche pas.La prise ne marche pas.Prise is feminine: la prise, not le prise.
J'ai appelé le plombier. Il vient hier.J'ai appelé le plombier. Il est venu hier.For a completed past event, use passé composé (est venu), not present tense (vient).
Il faut un tournevis pour réparer le fuite.Il faut un tournevis pour réparer la fuite.Fuite is feminine: la fuite, not le fuite.
Quick quiz
Question 1 of 5
How do you say “a screwdriver” in French?
The real French tutor lives in the app
Reading is a start — Mio is built for practice. The app adds everything the web can’t do:
- Talk
Real voice conversations with your AI tutor
- Listening
Short stories and dialogues with comprehension questions
- Smart flashcards
Spaced repetition that shows words right before you forget them
- Your coach Mio
Tracks your mistakes and builds a daily plan around your weak spots