German · Hausmeister / Reparatur
The smoke detector in the flat is beeping and you ask who will fix it: what to say in German
The smoke detector in your flat beeps and you ask who will fix it.
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How it's done. A smoke detector (Rauchmelder) is compulsory in German flats; the landlord or Hausmeister usually looks after it; beeping often means a weak battery.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
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The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Entschuldigung, mein Rauchmelder piept die ganze Zeit. Was muss ich tun?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, mighn ROWKH-mel-duh peept dee GAHN-tseh tsight. Vahs moos eekh toon?
Excuse me, my smoke detector beeps all the time. What do I have to do?
Or say:Der Rauchmelder in der Wohnung piept. Wer ist dafür zuständig?
Dehr ROWKH-mel-duh een dehr VOH-noong peept. Vehr eest duh-FYOOR TSOOS-tayn-deekh?
THEY SAY
Das ist meistens die Batterie. Der Hausmeister kommt und wechselt sie.Dahs eest MIGHS-tayns dee buh-teh-REE. Dehr KHOWS-mighs-tuh komt oont VEK-selt zee.
It is mostly the battery. The caretaker will come and change it.
They might also say:
Ein Piepen heißt oft: Die Batterie ist schwach. Ich schicke den Hausmeister.
Ighn PEE-payn khighst oft: Dee buh-teh-REE eest shvahkh. Eekh SHEE-keh dayn KHOWS-mighs-tuh.
A beep often means the battery is weak. I'll send the caretaker.
2
YOU REPLY
Muss ich selbst etwas machen?
Moos eekh zelpst EH-tvuhs MAH-khayn?
Do I have to do anything myself?
THEY SAY
Nein, aber Sie müssen ihn in die Wohnung lassen. Passt Ihnen morgen um zehn Uhr?Nighn, AH-buh zee MYOO-sayn een een dee VOH-noong LAH-sayn. Pahst EE-nayn MOR-gayn oom tsayn oor?
No, but you have to let him into the flat. Does tomorrow at ten suit you?
3
YOU REPLY
Ja, ich bin morgen zu Hause.
Yah, eekh been MOR-gayn tsoo KHOW-zeh.
Yes, I'll be at home tomorrow.
THEY SAY
Gut. Er klingelt bei Ihnen.Goot. Ehr KLEEN-gelt bigh EE-nayn.
Good. He'll ring your bell.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke für die schnelle Hilfe!
DAHN-keh fyoor dee SHNEH-leh KHEEL-feh!
Thank you for the quick help!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Rauchmelder
ROWKH-mel-duh
noun
smoke detector
piept
peept
verb
beeps
ganze
GAHN-tseh
adjective
whole
Zeit
tsight
noun
time
muss
moos
verb
must, has to
tun
toon
verb
to do
43 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The heating in the flat is not workingHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
→You report mould in the bathroomHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
→You arrange a time for the repairman's visitHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
→Water is leaking from the kitchen ceiling and you phone the building managementHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
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