Dialogue
French dialogue at the optician's: getting broken glasses repaired
Your glasses are broken. Explain the problem to a French optician, ask about a temporary fix, the price and when to collect them. Full dialogue with practice.
- A2
- 12 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Explain what's broken: La branche est cassée (the arm is broken), Il manque une vis (a screw is missing), Le verre est rayé (the lens is scratched). Ask Vous pouvez les réparer ?, Ça prendra combien de temps ? and C'est combien ?
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
- Opticien
Bonjour, je peux vous aider ?
English
Hello, can I help you?
- You
Bonjour. Mes lunettes sont cassées : la branche gauche s'est détachée.
Say your glasses are broken; the left arm has come off.
English
Hello. My glasses are broken: the left arm has come off.
- Opticien
Faites voir… Ah, il manque une petite vis. Vous les avez achetées chez nous ?
English
Let me see… Ah, a little screw is missing. Did you buy them here?
- You
Non, en Angleterre. Vous pouvez les réparer quand même ?
Say no, in England; ask if they can repair them anyway.
English
No, in England. Can you repair them anyway?
- Opticien
Oui, je vais remettre une vis. C'est rapide, cinq minutes.
English
Yes, I'll put in a new screw. It's quick, five minutes.
- You
Super. C'est combien ?
Ask the price.
English
Great. How much is it?
- Opticien
Pour une vis, c'est gratuit. Mais le verre droit est très rayé.
English
For a screw, it's free. But the right lens is very scratched.
- You
Oui, je sais. On peut changer seulement le verre ?
Agree and ask if they can change just that lens.
English
Yes, I know. Can you change just the lens?
- Opticien
Oui, mais il me faut votre ordonnance, ou je refais un examen de vue.
English
Yes, but I need your prescription, or I'll do a new eye test.
- You
J'ai l'ordonnance sur mon téléphone. Ça prendra combien de temps ?
Say you have it on your phone; ask how long it'll take.
English
I've got the prescription on my phone. How long will it take?
- Opticien
Une semaine environ. Je vous appelle quand c'est prêt.
English
About a week. I'll call you when it's ready.
- You
Parfait. En attendant, je garde mes lunettes réparées.
Agree; say you'll keep the repaired pair meanwhile.
English
Perfect. In the meantime, I'll keep my repaired glasses.
What are the French words for glasses and repairs?
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la monture | frame |
| la branche | arm |
| le verre | lens |
| la vis | screw |
| les plaquettes (f.) | nose pads |
| l'étui (m.) | case |
In France, glasses are often partly reimbursed by la Sécurité sociale and la mutuelle (top-up health insurance), which is why opticians ask for l'ordonnance (prescription). Small repairs such as tightening a screw are usually free.