name the problem
- No jala. It does not work.
- Se descompuso. It broke.
- Está goteando. It is dripping.
- Se fue la luz. The power went out.
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Photo by Jimmy Woo on Unsplash 
Photo by Fernando Mola-Davis on Unsplash
expat life
apartment problem Spanish when something no jala
Leaks, power outages, broken doors, mystery noises: learn the phrases that get a repair moving.
Use This First
- Learn no jala, se descompuso, está goteando, se fue la luz, and fuga.
- Send clear photos plus one short Spanish sentence.
- Use urgente only when it is actually urgent.
Memorize these first
ask for repair
- ¿Puede mandar a alguien? Can you send someone?
- ¿Cuándo podría venir el plomero? When could the plumber come?
- Es urgente. It is urgent.
- Le mando foto. I will send you a photo.
One-screen cheat sheet
🔧
apartment problems cheat sheet Screenshot this before you go.
| Spanish | English | Use case | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| No jala. | It does not work. | general problem | local |
| Se descompuso. | It broke. | broken appliance | safe |
| Está goteando. | It is dripping. | leak | safe |
| Se fue la luz. | The power went out. | power outage | safe |
| ¿Puede mandar a alguien? | Can you send someone? | repair request | safe |
| ¿Cuándo podría venir el plomero? | When could the plumber come? | scheduling | safe |
| Es urgente. | It is urgent. | urgent issue | safe |
| Le mando foto. | I will send you a photo. | proof | safe |
the gringo trap
Do not say this by default
don't say this
Do not say no funciona for everything if the local phrase no jala fits.
say this
Use no jala for casual repair texts, no funciona for more neutral/formal contexts.
No jala is one of those tiny phrases that makes apartment Spanish sound lived-in.
safe / local / spicy
Pick your register
safe
No funciona el calentador.
local
No jala el calentador.
spicy
El calentador está chafeando horrible.
The spicy one is venting, not the first message to a landlord.
How it sounds
repair text
Hola, el calentador no jala. Hi, the water heater does not work.
¿Desde cuándo? Since when?
Desde ayer. Le mando foto. Since yesterday. I will send you a photo.
Va, mando al técnico. Okay, I will send the technician.
leak
Está goteando debajo del lavabo. It is dripping under the sink.
¿Es urgente? Is it urgent?
Sí, está mojando el piso. Yes, it is getting the floor wet.
Mando al plomero. I will send the plumber.
Practice cards
three fast taps before you try it outside.
The water heater does not work.
You need the safest version for apartment problems. What do you pick first?
Which move avoids the gringo trap?
Words you'll hear
Deep dives
FAQ
What should I memorize first for apartment problems?
Start with No jala., Se descompuso., Está goteando., Se fue la luz., ¿Puede mandar a alguien?. These cover the fastest moments on the page.
Is this apartment problems Spanish safe to use as a foreigner?
Yes. Start with the safe phrases, then use the local phrases with friends or people your age. Treat spicy phrases as context-dependent, not universal.
How should I practice this situation?
Read the cheat sheet out loud, run the mini-dialogues once in Spanish and once in English, then answer the practice card before you go out in CDMX.