tomber en panne

/tɔ̃be ɑ̃ pan/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A machine or vehicle suddenly stops working.

Examples

  • Le chauffage est tombé en panne cette nuit.
    The heating broke down last night.
  • La voiture est tombée en panne sur l’autoroute.
    The car broke down on the motorway.
  • Notre camion est tombé en panne avant d’arriver.
    Our truck broke down before arriving.
  • Si l’ascenseur tombe en panne, prends l’escalier.
    If the lift breaks down, take the stairs.
  • Mon ordinateur tombe en panne trop souvent.
    My computer breaks down too often.

Similar words

cesser de fonctionner
tomber en carafe

Meanings

Stop working unexpectedly

mechanics
neutral
To stop functioning because of a fault, usually said of a vehicle or device.

Examples

  • La voiture est tombée en panne sur l’autoroute.
    The car broke down on the motorway.
  • Mon ordinateur tombe en panne trop souvent.
    My computer breaks down too often.
  • Le chauffage est tombé en panne cette nuit.
    The heating broke down last night.
  • Si l’ascenseur tombe en panne, prends l’escalier.
    If the lift breaks down, take the stairs.
  • Notre camion est tombé en panne avant d’arriver.
    Our truck broke down before arriving.

Similar words

Etymology

Literally “fall into a breakdown”: tomber means “fall” and panne is a failure of operation.

FAQ

What does tomber en panne mean?

To break down or stop working.

Is it used for vehicles?

Yes. Cars and trucks can tomber en panne.

Can it describe a computer?

Yes. Devices can break down too.

What is the past form in a sentence?

La voiture est tombée en panne.

Does panne mean a fault?

Yes. Une panne is a breakdown or fault.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...