French Phrase
Mon ordi ne s'allume pas.
Meaning
This sentence means ‘My computer doesn’t turn on.’ It conveys that the speaker’s device fails to power up, often prompting a request for help or an explanation of the problem.
When to use
Use this phrase when your computer won’t start and you’re talking to a friend, a colleague, or technical support. It’s informal because of ‘ordi’, so switch to ‘ordinateur’ in a formal setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Monordines'allumepas.
Possessive adjective (Mon)
‘Mon’ is the masculine singular form of ‘my’, used before masculine nouns or nouns that start with a vowel sound.
Colloquial noun (ordi)
‘Ordi’ is an informal abbreviation of ‘ordinateur’ (computer), common in spoken French.
Negation (ne … pas)
French negation typically wraps the verb with ‘ne’ before and ‘pas’ after; in spoken language the ‘ne’ is often dropped.
Pronominal verb (s'allumer)
‘S’allumer’ means ‘to turn on’ for devices; the reflexive pronoun ‘se’ contracts to ‘s’ before a vowel.
Verb conjugation (allume)
‘Allume’ is the third‑person singular present tense of ‘allumer’ (to light, to turn on).
🗨In Conversation
Mon ordi ne s'allume pas.
My computer doesn't turn on.
As-tu vérifié le câble d'alimentation ?
Did you check the power cable?
✕Common Mistakes
ne s'allume pas mon ordi
In French the negation surrounds the verb, not the noun; the correct order is ‘Mon ordi ne s'allume pas.’
Mon ordi ne allume pas
The reflexive pronoun ‘se’ is required for ‘s’allumer’; without it the sentence is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Mon ordinateur ne démarre pas.
My computer won't start.
Mon PC ne s'allume plus.
My PC no longer turns on.
Mon ordi ne fonctionne plus.
My computer no longer works.
Cultural Tip
‘Ordi’ is widely used among younger speakers and in casual conversation, but in professional emails or with strangers you should say ‘ordinateur’. Also, French speakers often drop the ‘ne’ in spoken negation, so you might hear ‘Mon ordi s’allume pas.’ which is acceptable informally but not in writing.