Lesson 16 of 18 · Hotel
Report an Observed Room Problem to a Colleague or Reception
Factually report an observed room defect—specifically a light that will not turn on or a tap leaking water—in room 101, 102, or 201 to reception or a coworker, and confirm repeat-back details without diagnosing causes or promising repair times.
Learn these expressions
C'è un problema nella camera centouno.
There is a problem in room 101.
Opening a factual fault report.
La luce non si accende.
The light will not turn on.
Reporting an electrical lighting defect.
Il rubinetto perde acqua.
The tap is leaking water.
Reporting a plumbing fixture leak.
Avviso la reception.
I am notifying reception.
Stating handover to the front desk.
Non posso riparare il problema.
I cannot repair the problem.
Clarifying operational boundary.
Confermo: camera centouno, la luce.
I confirm: room 101, the light.
Repeat-back verification formula.
New words
- il problema
- the problem (masculine singular noun ending in -a; plural i problemi)
- c'è
- there is
- la luce
- the light / lighting fixture (feminine singular noun)
- non si accende
- does not switch on / will not turn on (present tense reflexive verb accendersi)
- il rubinetto
- the tap / faucet (masculine singular noun)
- perde acqua
- leaks water / is leaking water (verb perdere + noun acqua)
- riparare
- to repair / to fix (verb infinitive)
- la manutenzione
- maintenance department / maintenance team
- Grazie a te
- thank you (informal peer reply); Buon lavoro = have a good shift.
- Non conosco l’orario
- I do not know the time; chiedo alla reception = I will ask reception.
You may hear
- Qual è il problema? = What is the problem?
- In quale camera? = In which room?
- Avviso subito la manutenzione. = I am notifying maintenance right away.
- Ricevuto: il rubinetto perde acqua. = Understood: the tap is leaking water.
Grammar tipsShow
Noun Gender Note (Il problema):
Although problema ends in -a, it is a masculine noun: say il problema or un problema. Never say "la problema".
Negative Verb Placement (Non si accende):
To state that a machine or light does not function, place non directly in front of the reflexive pronoun and verb: la luce non si accende (the light does not turn on).
Reporting Symptoms vs Diagnosing:
State what you observe with your eyes: La luce non si accende (The light does not turn on) or Il rubinetto perde acqua (The tap leaks water). Never speculate: do not say "La lampadina è bruciata" (The bulb is burnt out) or "Il tubo è rotto" (The pipe is broken).
Listen to the conversation
Listen once without reading. Then step through the lines below, one turn at a time.
Listening practice
Listen, pick an answer, then reveal the spoken words to check. Practice only, not an exam.
Question 1
What room and specific physical fault are reported by the speaker?
Question 2
What concrete operational step will the speaker take after receiving this report?