French Phrase
Ma carte ne marche pas.
Meaning
Literally “My card does not work.” It is used when a credit card, debit card, transit pass, or any other type of card is being rejected or is malfunctioning.
When to use
Say this at a shop checkout, at a ticket machine, or when calling customer service because your card is being declined or isn’t being read.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Macartenemarchepas
Possessive adjective
"Ma" agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here it is feminine singular to match "carte".
Negation (ne…pas)
French forms a negative statement by surrounding the verb with "ne" and "pas"; in informal speech the "ne" is often dropped.
Verb marcher (to work)
In this context, "marche" is the 3rd‑person singular present of "marcher" meaning “to function” rather than “to walk”.
Noun gender
"Carte" is a feminine noun, so the article and adjective must be feminine (la, ma).
🗨In Conversation
Ma carte ne marche pas.
My card doesn't work.
Je vais appeler le service client pour vous aider.
I'll call customer service to help you.
✕Common Mistakes
Ma carte ne marche.
Missing "pas" leaves the sentence incomplete; the negation is not fully expressed.
Ma carte marche pas.
Dropping the "ne" is common in speech but should be retained in formal writing or learning contexts.
Ma carte ne marche pas.
If you meant the card is physically broken, you might prefer "Ma carte est cassée"; "marche" refers to functionality, not physical damage.
↔Alternatives
Ma carte ne fonctionne pas.
My card doesn't function.
Ma carte ne passe pas.
My card won't go through.
Je n'arrive pas à utiliser ma carte.
I can't use my card.
Cultural Tip
In France "carte" can refer to many things—bank cards, metro passes, loyalty cards, etc. When you’re at a service desk, it’s polite to add "s'il vous plaît" and to keep a calm tone. In everyday conversation many French speakers drop the "ne" and say "Ma carte marche pas," which is perfectly acceptable in informal settings but keep the full form for written or formal speech.