French Phrase
La fenêtre ne se ferme pas bien.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘The window doesn’t close properly.’ It conveys that the window is stuck, the latch is faulty, or the seal is worn, and it needs attention.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re talking about a problem with a window at home, in a rental, or while staying at a hotel. It’s also handy when calling a handyman or describing the issue to a neighbour.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lafenêtrenesefermepasbien
Negation (ne…pas)
In French, to make a verb negative you wrap it with ne … pas. The ne can be dropped in spoken French, but the pas stays.
Reflexive verb (se fermer)
‘Se fermer’ is a reflexive verb meaning ‘to close itself’. The reflexive pronoun se must agree with the subject.
Adverb placement (bien)
Adverbs of manner like bien usually follow the verb phrase they modify, here after the negative construction.
🗨In Conversation
La fenêtre ne se ferme pas bien.
The window doesn’t close properly.
Je vais regarder ; peut‑être que le joint est usé.
I’ll take a look; maybe the seal is worn out.
✕Common Mistakes
La fenêtre ne ferme pas bien.
Missing the reflexive pronoun ‘se’; the verb must be reflexive because the window closes itself.
La fenêtre ne se ferme pas bon.
‘Bon’ is an adjective; you need the adverb ‘bien’ to modify the verb.
La fenêtre se ferme pas bien.
In spoken French the ‘ne’ is often dropped, but you cannot drop ‘pas’; saying ‘La fenêtre se ferme pas bien’ is colloquial and acceptable only in very informal speech.
↔Alternatives
La fenêtre ne se ferme pas correctement.
The window doesn’t close correctly.
La fenêtre se ferme mal.
The window closes badly.
La fenêtre a du mal à se fermer.
The window has trouble closing.
Cultural Tip
In many French homes, especially older apartments, windows are often double‑glazed and may have wooden or metal frames that can swell with humidity. When reporting a problem, it’s polite to use a neutral tone and, if you’re a tenant, to mention that you’ll contact the landlord or the building’s maintenance service. Avoid sounding accusatory; instead, frame it as a request for help.