Spanish Phrase
El aire acondicionado no funciona.
Meaning
Literally, 'The air conditioner does not work.' It is used to state that the cooling unit is broken or not operating correctly.
When to use
Use this sentence when the air‑conditioning unit in a home, office, car, or public space stops cooling, makes strange noises, or otherwise fails to operate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elaireacondicionadonofunciona
Definite article (El)
Use 'el' before masculine singular nouns like 'aire' to specify a particular thing.
Compound noun (aire acondicionado)
A compound noun formed by two nouns; the first acts as a modifier. No article is needed between them.
Negation (no)
Place 'no' directly before the verb to negate the action.
Verb (funciona)
Third‑person singular present of 'funcionar' meaning 'to work' or 'to function'.
🗨In Conversation
El aire acondicionado no funciona.
The air conditioner isn’t working.
¿Quieres que llame al técnico?
Do you want me to call the technician?
✕Common Mistakes
Aire acondicionado no funciona.
Missing the definite article 'el' before 'aire' makes the sentence sound incomplete.
El aire acondicionado no funciona bien.
Adding 'bien' changes the meaning to 'it doesn’t work well' rather than 'it’s broken.' Use 'no funciona' for a total failure.
El aire acondicionado no funciona está.
Verb placement is wrong; the correct order is 'no funciona' or 'no está funcionando.'
↔Alternatives
El aire acondicionado está averiado.
The air conditioner is broken.
El aire acondicionado está roto.
The air conditioner is broken.
El aire acondicionado no está funcionando.
The air conditioner isn’t functioning.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, especially in hot regions, air‑conditioning is a daily necessity. When reporting a problem, it’s common to use the simple present (no funciona) rather than the progressive form. If you’re in a formal setting, you might add a polite request: 'Disculpe, el aire acondicionado no funciona.'