French Phrase
Ça se répare ?
Meaning
Literally, “Does this get repaired?” or “Is it repairable?”. It is a short, informal way to ask whether something that is broken can be fixed, often used when you’re looking at an object and are unsure about the cost or feasibility of repair.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re examining a broken item (a phone, a piece of furniture, a car part, etc.) and you want a quick assessment from a shopkeeper, a friend, or a technician. It’s casual, so it fits best in everyday conversation rather than formal written requests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çaserépare?
Ça
Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that', used informally in spoken French.
se + verb
Reflexive pronoun that can create a passive meaning: 'se réparer' = 'to be repaired'.
Inversion for questions
In spoken French the intonation can turn a statement into a question, but the written form often keeps the same order and adds a question mark.
Verb conjugation
Réparer is a regular -er verb; in the present tense third‑person singular it is 'répare'.
🗨In Conversation
Ça se répare ?
Can it be fixed?
Oui, mais ça va coûter cher.
Yes, but it will be expensive.
✕Common Mistakes
Ça réparer ?
Missing the reflexive pronoun ‘se’ and the correct verb form; the sentence is ungrammatical.
Il se répare ?
‘Il’ refers to a masculine noun, not to ‘this/that’; use ‘ça’ for an unspecified object.
Ça se réparez ?
The verb should stay in third‑person singular; ‘réparez’ is second‑person plural or formal you.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que ça peut être réparé ?
Can this be repaired?
Peut‑on le réparer ?
Can we repair it?
C’est réparable ?
Is it repairable?
Cultural Tip
In France, the informal “ça” is common among friends and in shops, but in a very formal setting (e.g., writing to a company) you would use “Est‑ce que cet objet peut être réparé ?”. Also, French technicians often ask “Quel est le problème ?” before answering, so be ready to describe the fault in more detail.