French Phrase
Le robinet n'arrête pas de couler.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe a faucet that is continuously flowing or leaking water. It employs the verbal structure 'ne pas arrêter de' followed by an infinitive to express an action that continues without interruption.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are dealing with a plumbing problem at home or in a hotel. It is the standard way to inform a plumber or a landlord that a faucet is malfunctioning.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Le robinetn'arrête pasdecouler
Le robinet
The noun for 'faucet' or 'tap', which is masculine in French.
Ne... pas
The standard negation structure in French, where 'ne' becomes 'n' before a vowel.
Arrêter de
A common construction meaning 'to stop doing something', always followed by the preposition 'de' and an infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Tu as entendu ? Le robinet n'arrête pas de couler dans la cuisine.
Did you hear? The tap won't stop running in the kitchen.
Mince, je vais devoir appeler le plombier demain.
Darn, I'm going to have to call the plumber tomorrow.
✕Common Mistakes
Le robinet ne stoppe pas de couler.
In French, 'arrêter' is the standard verb for stopping an action; 'stopper' is often an anglicism in this context.
Le robinet n'arrête pas à couler.
The verb 'arrêter' requires the preposition 'de' before a following infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Le robinet fuit.
The tap is leaking.
L'eau coule sans arrêt.
The water is flowing without stopping.
Cultural Tip
In many French-speaking regions, environmental consciousness is high, so a running tap is viewed as a significant waste. If you are in a rental property in France, small repairs like changing a joint (washer) are typically the tenant's responsibility, whereas major pipe issues fall to the landlord.