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French · Neighbours · Elementary

How to complain about noise to a neighbour in French

Knock, say “Bonsoir, excusez-moi de vous déranger”, then explain gently: “Je ne veux pas créer de problème, mais le bruit m'empêche de dormir”. Before your own party, warn the neighbours: “Des amis viennent chez moi samedi. Pardon d'avance si ça fait du bruit.” A note in the hall works too.

Try it · about two minutes

Music from upstairs keeps you awake, so you knock and ask politely, or give neighbours a heads-up about your own party.

Sound on: the neighbour speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. It’s late and music from upstairs keeps you awake. You go up and knock on the door.

    You

    Bonsoir, excusez-moi de vous déranger.

    Good evening, sorry to disturb you.

  2. Neighbour

    Bonsoir… Oui ?

    Good evening… Yes?

    You

    La musique est très forte.

    The music is very loud.

  3. Neighbour

    Pardon pour le bruit.

    Sorry about the noise.

    You

    Pas de souci.

    No worries.

  4. Neighbour

    On va essayer de faire moins de bruit.

    We’ll try to be quieter.

    You

    Merci, c'est gentil.

    Thanks, that’s kind.

  5. Neighbour

    Vous avez besoin de quelque chose ?

    Is there something you need?

    You

    Je fais une petite fête pour mon anniversaire.

    I’m having a small party for my birthday.

  6. Neighbour

    Pas de souci.

    No worries.

    You

    Merci de votre compréhension pour le bruit.

    Thank you for being understanding about the noise.

Key phrases

  • La musique est très forte.

    The music is very loud.

  • Vous pourriez faire moins de bruit, s'il vous plaît ?

    Could you make a bit less noise, please?

  • Je ne veux pas créer de problème, mais le bruit m'empêche de dormir.

    I don’t want to cause trouble, but the noise is keeping me awake.

  • Ça vous dérangerait de baisser le son après vingt-deux heures ?

    Would you mind turning it down after ten p.m.?

  • J'entends votre télévision à travers le mur.

    I can hear your television through the wall.

  • On va essayer de faire moins de bruit.

    We’ll try to be quieter.

  • Pardon pour le bruit.

    Sorry about the noise.

  • Des amis viennent chez moi samedi.

    Some friends are coming over on Saturday.

  • Pardon d'avance si ça fait du bruit.

    Sorry in advance if it gets noisy.

  • Merci de votre compréhension pour le bruit.

    Thank you for being understanding about the noise.

Good to know in France

A note in the hall

Before a party, many people pin a short note in the entrance hall or the lift to warn the building, ending with a word of thanks.

Pardon d'avance si ça fait du bruit.

Sorry in advance if it gets noisy.

Bonsoir after dark

In the evening

Bonsoir, excusez-moi de vous déranger.

Good evening, sorry to disturb you.

In the daytime

Bonjour, j'habite à côté.

Hello, I live next door.

From early evening, people usually switch to bonsoir. Knocking late at night with bonjour sounds a little off.

Ten o’clock

Many people treat 10 p.m. as the time to turn music down. Agreeing on a time is friendlier than complaining again.

Ça vous dérangerait de baisser le son après vingt-deux heures ?

Would you mind turning it down after ten p.m.?

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.