SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At The Hotel

German Phrase

Meine Schlüsselkarte geht nicht.

/ˈmaɪ̯.nə ˈʃlʏsəlˌkaʁ.tə ɡeːt nɪçt/
Meaning"My key card doesn't work."
💡

Meaning

Literally, ‘My key‑card does not go.’ In everyday German this means ‘My key card isn’t working.’ It’s the go‑to sentence when a hotel, office or public‑transport card fails to grant access.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase at a hotel reception, office security desk, or any place where you need a card to open a door or gate and it refuses to work. It’s a neutral, polite way to ask for help.

✦Grammar Breakdown

MeineSchlüsselkartegehtnicht

1

Possessive adjective

‘Meine’ is the feminine singular form of the possessive adjective for ‘my’, matching the gender of ‘Schlüsselkarte’.

2

Compound noun

‘Schlüsselkarte’ combines ‘Schlüssel’ (key) and ‘Karte’ (card) to mean a key‑card used for access.

3

gehen + nicht

In German, ‘gehen’ can be used idiomatically to mean ‘to work’ or ‘to function’, especially for devices.

4

Negation

‘nicht’ negates the verb phrase, placed after the verb in a simple statement.

🗨In Conversation

A

Meine Schlüsselkarte geht nicht.

My key card isn’t working.

Oh, das tut mir leid. Ich gebe Ihnen eine neue Karte.

Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll give you a new card.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Meine Schlüsselkarte ist nicht.

    ‘Ist nicht’ is used for static states, not for devices that fail to work. Use ‘geht nicht’ or ‘funktioniert nicht’.

  • Meine Schlüsselkarte funktionieren nicht.

    The verb must agree with the singular noun: ‘funktioniert nicht’, not ‘funktionieren nicht’.

  • Mein Schlüsselkarte geht nicht.

    ‘Schlüsselkarte’ is feminine, so the correct possessive is ‘meine’, not ‘mein’.

↔Alternatives

  • Meine Schlüsselkarte funktioniert nicht.

    My key card does not function.

  • Meine Karte funktioniert nicht.

    My card does not work.

  • Meine Schlüsselkarte lässt sich nicht benutzen.

    My key card can’t be used.

de

Cultural Tip

German hotels almost always issue a ‘Schlüsselkarte’ instead of a metal key. When you report a problem, keep a calm tone and use the formal ‘Sie’ form with staff (e.g., ‘Entschuldigung, meine Schlüsselkarte geht nicht.’). In some regions, especially in the south, you might also hear ‘Karte’ alone, but ‘Schlüsselkarte’ is universally understood.