A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "The air conditioning isn't working" in Italian
Report a broken air conditioner in your hotel, rental, or car in Italy with this essential phrase.
L'aria condizionata non funziona.
l'AR-yah kon-dee-tsee-oh-NAH-tah non foon-TSYOH-nahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when the air conditioning in your hotel room, rental car, or a public space isn't cooling the air. It's a direct way to inform staff or a host about the problem.
Alternatives
- Il condizionatore è rotto.More informal, implies it's completely broken, not just not working.
- Non c'è aria condizionata.Use if the AC unit is completely missing or turned off.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'aria' and 'aria'
'Aria' means air, but 'aria' can also mean 'air' in a more general sense; be sure to use 'aria condizionata' for AC.
Wrong verb for 'working'
Use 'funziona' (works) not 'lavora' (works/labors) for machines.
A small cultural note
In Italy, air conditioning is often seen as a luxury and may not be standard in all accommodations, especially in older buildings or less touristy areas.
Frequently asked
how to say air conditioner in italian
The most common term is 'l'aria condizionata' (the air conditioning) or 'il condizionatore' (the air conditioner unit).
what if the air conditioning is weak
You could say 'L'aria condizionata funziona poco' (The air conditioning works a little) or 'L'aria condizionata non raffredda bene' (The air conditioning doesn't cool well).
is it rude to complain about no air conditioning
It's generally acceptable to report a problem politely, especially in a hotel or rental. Frame it as a request for help rather than a complaint.
