Reporting a hotel room problem | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a hotel reception desk, a guest reports that the room air conditioner is not working and asks about a repair..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Reporting a hotel room problem to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

El aire acondicionado de mi habitación no funciona.

ehl EYE-reh ah-kohn-dee-see-oh-NAH-doh deh mee ah-bee-tah-see-OWN noh foon-see-OH-nah The air conditioner in my room is not working.
B

Lo siento.

loh SYEN-toh I am sorry about that.
B

¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?

ah proh-BAH-doh ehl MAHN-doh ah dee-STAHN-see-ah Have you tried the remote?
A

Lo probé.

loh proh-BEH I tried it.
A

La temperatura no cambia.

lah tem-peh-rah-TOO-rah noh KAHM-byah The temperature does not change.
B

Enviaré a alguien para revisarlo.

em-byah-REH ah ahl-GYEHN PAH-rah reh-bee-SAR-loh I will send someone to check it.
A

¿Cuánto podría tardar la reparación?

KWAHN-toh poh-DREE-ah tar-DAR lah reh-pah-rah-see-OWN How long might the repair take?
B

No estoy seguro.

noh ehs-TOY seh-GOO-roh I am not sure.
B

Alguien puede venir pronto.

ahl-GYEHN PWEH-deh beh-NEER PROHN-toh Someone can come shortly.
A

Esperaré en la habitación.

ehs-peh-rah-REH ehn lah ah-bee-tah-see-OWN I will wait in the room.
B

Por favor, avísenos si el problema continúa.

por fah-BOR ah-BEE-seh-nos see ehl proh-BLEH-mah kohn-TEE-nwah Please let us know if the problem continues.

Word by Word

El “El” means “the” in “El aire acondicionado de mi habitación”. It introduces the specific air conditioner being discussed and is used before the noun. This is useful when identifying a particular object, such as “el problema” later in the dialogue.
aire “Aire” means “air” in “El aire acondicionado”. Together with “acondicionado”, the expression refers to the air conditioner in the room. You can reuse this expression when reporting a problem with the room’s air conditioning.
acondicionado “Acondicionado” contributes the idea of conditioned or treated air in “El aire acondicionado”. The full expression “aire acondicionado” means “air conditioner” here. It is useful when referring to the air-conditioning system in a room.
de “De” links “aire acondicionado” with “mi habitación” in “El aire acondicionado de mi habitación”, showing which room the air conditioner belongs to or is associated with. A useful reuse is the same noun-plus-“de”-noun relationship when identifying something connected with a place.
mi “Mi” means “my” in “mi habitación” and identifies the room as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun. You can reuse “mi” before a noun when talking about your own belongings or places.
habitación “Habitación” means “room” in “mi habitación” and “en la habitación”. It identifies the hotel room where the problem occurs and where the guest will wait. It is useful when describing a hotel location.
no “No” makes “funciona” negative in “no funciona”, meaning that the air conditioner does not work. It normally comes before the verb in this sentence. The same position is useful when reporting that a device or service is not working.
funciona “Funciona” means “works” or “functions” in “no funciona”, describing the air conditioner’s operation. With “no”, the exact expression reports a malfunction. You can reuse “no funciona” when explaining that a machine or device is not working.
Lo In “Lo siento”, “Lo” is part of the expression used to apologize, whose full meaning is “I am sorry”. In “Lo probé”, the same form refers to the remote control that was tried. This makes “Lo” useful for referring to something already understood from the conversation.
siento “Siento” combines with “Lo” in “Lo siento” to express an apology; the whole expression means “I am sorry”. It is used here by the receptionist in response to the guest’s problem. You can reuse “Lo siento” when acknowledging that someone has experienced a problem.
Ha “Ha” helps form the polite question “¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?”, asking whether the guest has tried the remote. Its meaning here comes from its combination with “probado”. This is useful in a service situation when asking whether someone has already tried an action.
probado “Probado” means “tried” in “¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?”. Together with “Ha”, it asks about an earlier attempt involving the remote. You can reuse this form with an object when checking whether someone has tried a possible solution.
mando “Mando” means “remote control” as part of the full expression “el mando a distancia”. The complete expression identifies the device used to control the air conditioner. It is useful when asking a hotel guest whether they have used the room’s remote.
a In “mando a distancia”, “a” helps form the expression meaning “remote control”, literally describing something operated at a distance. It is not functioning as a separate “to” in this expression. You can reuse the exact expression “a distancia” when describing remote operation.
distancia “Distancia” means “distance” in the expression “mando a distancia”. Together, “mando a distancia” means “remote control”. This word is useful when talking about something operated from a distance.
probé “Probé” means “I tried” in “Lo probé”, where “Lo” refers to the remote control. The sentence reports that the guest has already attempted the suggested action. You can reuse “Lo probé” when confirming that you tried a previously mentioned object or solution.
temperatura “Temperatura” means “temperature” in “La temperatura no cambia”. It identifies what remains unchanged when the air conditioner is used. This word is useful when reporting a problem with heating or cooling.
cambia “Cambia” means “changes” in “La temperatura no cambia”. With “no”, the guest explains that adjusting the air conditioner has no effect. You can reuse “no cambia” when saying that a setting or condition remains the same.
Enviaré “Enviaré” means “I will send” in “Enviaré a alguien para revisarlo”. It expresses the receptionist’s plan to arrange help. This is useful when promising to send a person to handle a reported problem.
alguien “Alguien” means “someone” in “Enviaré a alguien” and “Alguien puede venir pronto”. It refers to an unspecified person who will check the air conditioner. You can reuse it when the person’s identity is not important or not yet known.
para “Para” introduces the purpose in “para revisarlo”, meaning “to check it” or “in order to check it”. It connects the action of sending someone with the reason for doing so. A useful reuse is “para” followed by an action that explains a purpose.
revisarlo “Revisarlo” means “to check it” in “para revisarlo”, referring to the air conditioner or the problem. The form contains the action of checking together with “lo”, which refers to the thing being checked. It is useful when arranging for someone to inspect an already mentioned object.
Cuánto “Cuánto” means “how long” in “¿Cuánto podría tardar la reparación?”, asking about the amount of time needed. It is used here to request an estimate rather than a definite time. This is useful when asking how much time a repair or other process may require.
podría “Podría” expresses possibility in “¿Cuánto podría tardar la reparación?”, so the guest asks how long the repair might take. It leaves room for an uncertain estimate. You can reuse it before an action when asking what may happen or how long something may take.
tardar “Tardar” means “to take time” in “podría tardar la reparación”. The question “¿Cuánto podría tardar...?” asks for the duration of the repair. This form is useful when asking how long a task or process will require.
la “La” means “the” in “la reparación” and introduces the specific repair being discussed. It comes directly before the noun. You can reuse it before a known feminine noun when referring to a particular thing.
reparación “Reparación” means “repair” in “la reparación”. It refers to the work needed to fix the air conditioner. This word is useful when asking about the expected duration of service work.
estoy “Estoy” means “I am” in “No estoy seguro”. It describes the receptionist’s current state of certainty. You can reuse it with a description when explaining your present condition or assessment.
seguro “Seguro” means “sure” in “No estoy seguro”, which politely says that the receptionist does not know the exact repair time. It is used with “estoy” to describe certainty. This expression is useful when giving an uncertain answer without making a firm promise.
puede “Puede” means “can” or “may be able to” in “Alguien puede venir pronto”. It says that someone is available or expected to come soon. You can reuse it before an action when describing possibility or availability.
venir “Venir” means “come” in “puede venir pronto”. It describes the service person’s movement to the guest’s room. This form is useful after “puede” when saying that someone may come to a place.
pronto “Pronto” means “soon” or “shortly” in “Alguien puede venir pronto”. It gives a general near-time expectation without specifying an exact time. You can reuse it when telling someone that help or an event is expected in the near future.
Esperaré “Esperaré” means “I will wait” in “Esperaré en la habitación”. It expresses the guest’s plan to remain available for the person who will check the air conditioner. This is useful when telling someone where you will wait for a service or appointment.
en “En” means “in” in “en la habitación” and identifies the place where the guest will wait. It is followed by the location “la habitación”. You can reuse “en” before a place when stating where someone or something is.
Por In “Por favor”, “Por” is part of the polite expression meaning “please”. It helps introduce the receptionist’s courteous request. You can reuse “Por favor” before a request or instruction.
favor In “Por favor”, “favor” is part of the fixed polite expression meaning “please”, rather than a separate request in this sentence. The receptionist uses it to soften the instruction. It is useful at the beginning of a courteous request.
avísenos “Avísenos” means “let us know” in “Por favor, avísenos si el problema continúa”. It asks the guest to notify the hotel staff if the problem remains. You can reuse “avísenos si...” when asking someone to report what happens under a stated condition.
si “Si” means “if” in “si el problema continúa” and introduces the condition for contacting the hotel. It connects a possible future situation with the requested action “avísenos”. You can reuse it before a clause that states a condition.
problema “Problema” means “problem” in “el problema continúa”. It refers to the air-conditioning fault already reported by the guest. This word is useful when discussing whether a reported difficulty has been resolved.
continúa “Continúa” means “continues” in “si el problema continúa”. It describes the problem remaining after the repair attempt or visit. You can reuse it in a conditional statement when checking whether an unwanted situation remains.

Grammar Points

Futuro simple de yo: -é

Esperaré la reparación.

ehs-peh-rah-REH lah reh-pah-rah-see-OWN

I will wait for the repair.

The -é ending marks the simple future for yo: esperaré means “I will wait.”

Imperativo formal + pronombre: avísenos

Avísenos si continúa el problema.

ah-BEE-seh-nos see kohn-TEE-nwah ehl proh-BLEH-mah

Let us know if the problem continues.

Avise is a formal command; nos is attached to mean “let us know.”

Spanish Vocabulary

aire acondicionado phrase
EYE-reh ah-kohn-dee-see-oh-NAH-doh air conditioner

El aire acondicionado de mi habitación no funciona.

alguien pron
ahl-GYEHN someone

Enviaré a alguien para revisarlo.

cambiar verb
kahm-BYAR to change cambia

La temperatura no cambia.

enviar verb
em-BYAR to send enviaré

Enviaré a alguien para revisarlo.

funcionar verb
foon-see-oh-NAR to work; to function funciona

El aire acondicionado de mi habitación no funciona.

habitación noun
ah-bee-tah-see-OWN room

El aire acondicionado de mi habitación no funciona.

lo siento phrase
loh SYEN-toh I am sorry

Lo siento.

mando a distancia phrase
MAHN-doh ah dee-STAHN-see-ah remote control

¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?

probar verb
proh-BAR to try probado

¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?

reparación noun
reh-pah-rah-see-OWN repair

¿Cuánto podría tardar la reparación?

revisar verb
reh-bee-SAR to check; to inspect revisarlo

Enviaré a alguien para revisarlo.

temperatura noun
tem-peh-rah-TOO-rah temperature

La temperatura no cambia.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am sorry about that.

Show AnswerLo siento.

Have you tried the remote?

Show Answer¿Ha probado el mando a distancia?

I tried it.

Show AnswerLo probé.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to send

Show Answerenviaré

room

Show Answerhabitación

temperature

Show Answertemperatura

to work; to function

Show Answerfunciona