Râler or se plaindre: from grumbling to a clear complaint

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 16 October 2026 · About the library

Hear the difference between râler and se plaindre, then practise hotel complaints with the right prepositions, useful requests and short exchanges.

B1
12 phrases
3 situations
Learn this in the B1 notebook →

In short

Râler is familiar French for grumbling: Il râle contre le bruit. Se plaindre means to complain: Il se plaint du bruit à la réception. To make the complaint yourself, name the problem and ask for a concrete change.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

râler contre quelque choseto grumble about something

Focus: the irritated way a complaint is expressed

Dans le couloir, Paul râle contre le bruit.
In the corridor, Paul grumbles about the noise.

se plaindre de quelque chose à quelqu’unto complain about something to someone

Focus: the problem and the person who hears the complaint

Paul se plaint du bruit à la réceptionniste.
Paul complains about the noise to the receptionist.

The issue can be the same in both sentences. Râler puts the grumbling in the foreground; se plaindre names the complaint more neutrally. In du bruit, du combines de and le. The recipient follows à: à la réceptionniste, au responsable.

Talking to your travelling companion

Familiar words fit this private exchange.

ReceptionistPaul râle encore ?Is Paul grumbling again?

YouOui, il râle contre le bruit. La musique continue depuis une heure.Yes, he’s grumbling about the noise. The music has been going on for an hour.

ReceptionistOn va à la réception ?Shall we go to reception?

YouOui, je vais leur expliquer le problème.Yes, I’ll explain the problem to them.

Making the complaint

Lead with the noise and the room, then make a request.

YouBonsoir. Je voudrais me plaindre du bruit dans la chambre voisine.Good evening. I’d like to complain about the noise in the next room.

ReceptionistQuel est votre numéro de chambre ?What’s your room number?

YouLa 208. La musique est très forte. Pourriez-vous intervenir ?208. The music is very loud. Could you do something about it?

ReceptionistJe vais appeler les occupants tout de suite.I’ll call the occupants straight away.

A second problem, a specific request

YouIl n’y a pas d’eau chaude dans ma chambre.There’s no hot water in my room.

ReceptionistJe vais prévenir le technicien.I’ll let the technician know.

YouMerci. Pourriez-vous aussi me donner une autre serviette ?Thank you. Could you also give me another towel?

ReceptionistBien sûr. Je vous l’apporte.Of course. I’ll bring it to you.

Words for the hotel exchange

Useful forms before the check

Subject	râler	se plaindre
je	râle	me plains
nous	râlons	nous plaignons
ils / elles	râlent	se plaignent