French Phrase
La clim marche pas.
Meaning
Literally “The AC works not.” In everyday French it means “The air‑conditioner isn’t working.” The sentence is informal and would be used in casual conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to complain about a broken or non‑functioning air‑conditioner in a relaxed setting – at home, in the office, or while chatting with friends. It’s not appropriate for formal written communication.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Laclimmarchepas
La clim
Short for *la climatisation*, a common colloquial term for an air‑conditioner.
marcher (to work)
The verb *marcher* is used figuratively to mean “to function” or “to work”.
Negative without *ne*
In spoken French the *ne* is often dropped, leaving only *pas* after the verb.
Verb‑particle order
*pas* follows the verb directly (marche pas), not before it.
🗨In Conversation
La clim marche pas, il fait trop chaud ici.
The AC isn’t working, it’s too hot in here.
Vraiment? Je vais appeler le technicien.
Really? I’ll call the technician.
✕Common Mistakes
La clim ne marche pas.
In informal speech the *ne* is omitted; adding it makes the sentence formal, not incorrect.
La clim pas marche.
The negative particle *pas* must follow the verb, not precede it.
La climatisation marche pas.
Using the full word *climatisation* is correct but changes the register; learners sometimes think *clim* is wrong.
↔Alternatives
La climatisation ne fonctionne pas.
The air‑conditioning does not function.
La clim ne marche pas.
The AC doesn’t work.
La clim est en panne.
The AC is broken.
Cultural Tip
In France and many French‑speaking countries, *clim* is a ubiquitous slang term for *climatisation*. It’s perfectly natural in spoken French, especially in the summer, but you should avoid it in formal writing or when speaking to someone you don’t know well. Also, dropping the *ne* is a hallmark of informal speech; in a formal context you would keep the full negative construction (*ne marche pas*).