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A2 adjective 12 min de lectura

indisponible

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos indisponible en 30 segundos

Explicación indisponible in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to describe yourself and your basic needs. The word 'indisponible' might seem a bit long, but it is very useful. You use it when you want to say you cannot do something or meet someone. For example, if a friend asks you to go to the cinema, you can say 'Je suis indisponible'. It is a polite way to say 'no' without being mean. At this level, you should focus on the basic sentence structure: Subject + 'être' + indisponible. For example: 'Je suis indisponible', 'Tu es indisponible', 'Il est indisponible'. You also learn that it is the same for men and women, which makes it easier! You might also see this word on a shop door or a website. If you see 'Indisponible', it means 'You cannot have this now'. It is like a red light in traffic. You should also know its opposite, 'disponible', which means 'available' or 'ready'. So, 'disponible' is green light, 'indisponible' is red light. Even at A1, knowing this word helps you understand basic automated messages on the phone. If you hear a long French sentence on the phone and you hear the word 'indisponible', you know the person cannot talk to you. This helps you decide to hang up or leave a message. It is one of those 'survival' words for basic communication in a French-speaking country. Don't worry about the long spelling for now; just focus on recognizing the sound 'in-dis-po-nible' and knowing it means 'not available'.

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At the A2 level, you are expanding your vocabulary to include more professional and social situations. You now understand that 'indisponible' is the standard adjective for 'unavailable'. You can use it to talk about your schedule more precisely. For example, instead of just saying 'I am busy' (Je suis occupé), you can say 'Je suis indisponible lundi matin' (I am unavailable Monday morning). This sounds a bit more formal and is very common in office environments. You also start to use the plural form 'indisponibles' when talking about groups of people or multiple things. For example, 'Les billets sont indisponibles' (The tickets are unavailable). At A2, you also encounter this word in the context of technology and shopping. If you are trying to buy something online and it says 'article indisponible', you know it is out of stock. You are also learning to use adverbs to modify the word, such as 'actuellement indisponible' (currently unavailable) or 'temporairement indisponible' (temporarily unavailable). You might also hear this in public transport announcements, like when an elevator is 'indisponible pour travaux' (unavailable for works). This level is about moving beyond simple 'yes/no' and being able to explain the state of things. You are also learning to distinguish between 'indisponible' and 'occupé'. Remember: 'occupé' is for when you are doing a task, while 'indisponible' is for when you are not free for someone else. This distinction is key for sounding more natural in French.

At the B1 level, you are becoming more independent in your French communication. You can now use 'indisponible' in more complex sentence structures and in a wider variety of contexts. You might use it to discuss more abstract concepts, such as being 'émotionnellement indisponible' (emotionally unavailable). You also understand the nuances of formal correspondence. In a professional email, you might write, 'Je reste à votre disposition, mais je serai indisponible pendant la deuxième quinzaine d'août' (I remain at your disposal, but I will be unavailable during the second half of August). This shows a higher level of fluency and professional etiquette. At B1, you are also expected to recognize 'indisponible' in media reports and news. For example, a journalist might say that a witness is 'indisponible pour témoigner' (unavailable to testify). You are also starting to see how 'indisponible' relates to legal or technical constraints, not just personal schedules. For instance, 'Ces fonds sont indisponibles jusqu'à la fin du procès' (These funds are unavailable until the end of the trial). You are also becoming more aware of the register. While you might use 'indisponible' in a formal context, you know that in a casual conversation with friends, you might prefer 'je ne suis pas libre' or 'je suis pris'. This ability to switch registers based on your audience is a hallmark of the B1 level. You also start to use the noun form 'indisponibilité' (unavailability) in sentences like 'Je vous prie de m'excuser pour mon indisponibilité' (Please excuse my unavailability).

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At the B2 level, you have a solid grasp of the French language and can use 'indisponible' with nuance and precision. You understand that this word can carry a certain weight of finality or professional distance. You might use it in arguments or formal debates to describe resources that are not accessible due to structural or systemic reasons. For example, 'Les ressources naturelles sont indisponibles pour une exploitation immédiate' (The natural resources are unavailable for immediate exploitation). You are also comfortable using 'indisponible' in the passive voice or within complex relative clauses. For instance, 'Le service, qui était indisponible depuis hier, a enfin été rétabli' (The service, which had been unavailable since yesterday, has finally been restored). At this level, you also understand the subtle difference between 'indisponible' and synonyms like 'inaccessible' or 'inatteignable'. You know that 'indisponible' usually implies a temporary or situational lack of access, whereas 'inaccessible' might imply a physical or permanent barrier. You can also use the word in more literary or formal contexts, such as 'une beauté indisponible' (an unattainable beauty), which adds a layer of poetic meaning. Your pronunciation is now more refined, and you correctly nasalize the 'in-' prefix and handle the '-ble' ending with the proper French 'l' sound. You are also capable of explaining the etymology of the word if asked, noting the prefix 'in-' and the root 'disponible', and how it functions as an antonym in various semantic fields from technology to human relationships.

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At the C1 level, you use 'indisponible' with the ease of a near-native speaker. You are aware of its use in highly specialized fields such as law, medicine, and philosophy. In a legal context, you might discuss 'le capital indisponible' (unavailable capital) in a company's balance sheet, referring to funds that cannot be distributed to shareholders. In medicine, you might read about a 'patient indisponible' for a specific treatment due to contraindications. You also appreciate the word's role in rhetoric. A politician might use 'indisponible' to avoid a question without appearing to refuse it outright: 'Cette information est actuellement indisponible pour des raisons de sécurité nationale'. You can also use the word in sophisticated social commentary, for instance, discussing the 'indisponibilité' of modern individuals due to the constant distractions of technology. Your writing is fluid, and you use 'indisponible' as part of complex, well-structured arguments. You might use it to describe an abstract state of being, such as being 'indisponible au monde' (unavailable to the world) in a philosophical or psychological sense. At this level, you also recognize the word's appearance in classical literature or formal speeches, where it might be used to describe an unreachable ideal or a forbidden object. You have a deep understanding of the word's synonyms and can choose the most precise one for any given nuance, whether it be 'en rupture', 'occupé', 'pris', or 'inaccessible'. You are also sensitive to the subtle shifts in meaning that occur when the word is modified by sophisticated adverbs like 'notoirement' (notoriously) or 'vraisemblablement' (presumably).

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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over the word 'indisponible' and can use it with total spontaneity and precision in any context. You understand the most subtle connotations and can use the word to create specific effects in your speech or writing. You might use it in a witty or ironic way in a high-level conversation, or use it to define complex concepts in an academic paper. For example, in a treatise on economics, you might analyze the 'indisponibilité structurelle' (structural unavailability) of certain labor markets. You are also fully aware of the historical evolution of the word and how its usage has shifted over centuries. You can identify and use rare or archaic expressions that might include the root word. In creative writing, you might use 'indisponible' to describe a character's internal state with great depth: 'Il se sentait indisponible à toute forme de joie' (He felt unavailable to any form of joy). You also have a perfect command of the word's phonetics, including the subtle rhythm it brings to a sentence. You can effortlessly navigate between different registers, using 'indisponible' in a formal speech and then switching to more colloquial terms in a casual setting, always choosing the word that perfectly matches the social and cultural context. You are also able to correct others' usage of the word, explaining the fine distinctions between 'indisponible', 'indisposé', and other similar-sounding words with clarity and authority. For you, 'indisponible' is not just a vocabulary word, but a flexible tool that you use to express a wide range of meanings, from the most mundane logistical facts to the most profound philosophical reflections.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

indisponible en 30 segundos

Indisponible is the French word for 'unavailable'. It is used for people, products, and technical services that cannot be reached or used.
The word is 'épicène', meaning it has the same form for masculine and feminine singular. You only add 's' for the plural form.
It is more formal than 'occupé' (busy) and is the standard term for automated phone messages and out-of-stock items online.
Commonly paired with adverbs like 'actuellement' (currently) or 'temporairement' (temporarily) to specify the duration of the unavailability.

The French adjective indisponible is a versatile and essential term that every English speaker learning French must master. At its core, it translates to 'unavailable' in English, but its applications span across social, professional, technical, and emotional contexts. The word is formed by the negation prefix 'in-' and the adjective 'disponible' (available), which stems from the Latin 'disponere', meaning to arrange or put in order. When you describe someone or something as indisponible, you are stating that the person or object is currently not accessible, not free to assist, or not in a state to be used or obtained. In a professional setting, you might hear this word frequently in the context of scheduling. If a colleague is in a meeting, they are indisponibles. In the world of commerce and retail, if a product is out of stock or a service is currently suspended, the term indisponible will appear on the website or the store shelf.

Professional Availability: When a person cannot take a call or attend a meeting, they are considered indisponible. This is the standard polite way to say someone is busy without necessarily explaining what they are doing.

Technical Status: In computing, if a server is down or a file cannot be accessed, the system will report it as indisponible. It indicates a temporary or permanent lack of access.

Le directeur est actuellement indisponible pour le moment car il est en réunion avec des clients importants.

Beyond physical or logistical availability, the word can also touch upon emotional states. An 'homme indisponible' or a 'femme indisponible' might refer to someone who is emotionally guarded or already in a committed relationship, making them 'unavailable' for a new romantic connection. This nuance is very similar to the English 'emotionally unavailable'. Furthermore, in the context of medicine or sports, a player or a patient might be indisponible due to injury or illness, signifying they cannot perform their usual duties. Understanding the breadth of this word allows you to navigate French social cues with more grace, as saying 'Je suis indisponible' is often more formal and polite than saying 'Je suis occupé' (I am busy), which can sometimes sound a bit more abrupt depending on the tone.

Cette option est malheureusement indisponible dans votre région géographique pour des raisons de licence.

Désolé, ce numéro est temporairement indisponible.

L'athlète sera indisponible pour le reste de la saison à cause de sa blessure au genou.

Les chambres d'hôtel sont toutes indisponibles pendant la période du festival de Cannes.

Social Etiquette: Using 'indisponible' in social invitations provides a neutral, non-confrontational way to decline without offering deep personal excuses. It maintains a professional distance.

In summary, indisponible is the standard term for lack of availability, whether it concerns a person's time, an item's stock, or a system's functionality. It is a word that appears daily in emails, on websites, and in conversation, making it a high-frequency term for any learner reaching the A2 level and beyond.

Using indisponible correctly requires an understanding of French adjective agreement and placement. Since 'indisponible' ends in an 'e', it is categorized as an 'épicène' adjective. This means that for a singular subject, whether masculine or feminine, the spelling remains exactly the same. For example, you would say 'Il est indisponible' and 'Elle est indisponible'. This simplifies things for English speakers who are often worried about changing endings for gender. However, you must remember the plural form. When referring to multiple people or objects, you must add an 's' to the end: 'Ils sont indisponibles' or 'Les places sont indisponibles'.

Agreement with People: When describing individuals, 'indisponible' follows the verb 'être' (to be) or other state verbs like 'paraître' (to appear). Example: 'Ma sœur est indisponible ce week-end'.

Agreement with Objects: When describing nouns like 'produits' or 'services', the adjective must match the plural nature of the noun. Example: 'Ces articles sont indisponibles en magasin'.

Je suis vraiment désolé, mais je serai indisponible toute la journée de mardi prochain.

You can also modify 'indisponible' with adverbs to provide more detail about the duration or the cause of the unavailability. Common adverbs include 'temporairement' (temporarily), 'actuellement' (currently), 'momentanément' (momentarily), or 'définitivement' (permanently). For instance, 'Le service est momentanément indisponible' is a very common phrase seen on websites during maintenance.

Les données que vous recherchez sont indisponibles pour le moment suite à une erreur technique.

Mon avocat est indisponible pour commenter cette affaire judiciaire en cours.

Est-ce que vous seriez indisponible si je vous appelais à vingt heures ce soir ?

Il semble que le médecin soit indisponible jusqu'à la fin de la semaine prochaine.

Negative Constructions: While 'indisponible' is already a negative word, you can use it in negative sentences to emphasize availability: 'Il n'est pas indisponible' (He is not unavailable), though 'Il est disponible' is much more natural.

In academic or formal writing, you might see 'indisponible' used to describe resources or assets. For example, 'Les fonds sont indisponibles' means the funds are frozen or not accessible. This highlights the word's ability to shift from a simple 'busy' to a more complex 'legal or financial restriction'. As you practice, try to swap out the English word 'busy' or 'unavailable' in your mind with indisponible whenever you are in a formal or neutral French context. It will make your French sound more professional and precise than simply using 'occupé' for everything.

In the daily life of a French speaker, indisponible is ubiquitous. If you are living in France or a French-speaking country, one of the first places you will encounter it is on the telephone. Automated messages are perhaps the most common source. When you call someone and they don't answer, the voice recording often says, 'Votre correspondant est indisponible, veuillez laisser un message après le signal sonore.' This is the standard equivalent of 'The person you are calling is unavailable'.

E-commerce and Shopping: When shopping online on sites like Amazon.fr or Fnac, if a book or electronic item is out of stock, the button that usually says 'Ajouter au panier' (Add to cart) might be replaced by the text 'Article indisponible'. This is a crucial word for any online shopper to recognize to avoid frustration.

Public Transport and Services: In the Paris Metro or on SNCF trains, digital displays might show 'Service indisponible' if a ticket machine is broken or if a specific line is experiencing delays and is not currently running.

L'ascenseur de l'immeuble est indisponible pour maintenance jusqu'à demain soir.

Another very common place to see indisponible is in digital applications. On messaging apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams, when you set your status to 'Away' or 'Do Not Disturb', the French interface often uses 'indisponible' (Busy/Unavailable). Similarly, on streaming platforms like Netflix or YouTube, if a video cannot be played in your country, the message will often read 'Cette vidéo est indisponible dans votre pays'.

Désolé, la page que vous demandez est indisponible ou a été déplacée.

En raison d'une grève, de nombreux trains seront indisponibles demain matin.

Le parking est complet, toutes les places sont désormais indisponibles.

Le médicament est indisponible en pharmacie pour une durée indéterminée.

Media and Journalism: Journalists use this word when a public figure refuses to comment. 'Le ministre est resté indisponible pour répondre à nos questions' (The minister remained unavailable to answer our questions).

In summary, whether you are browsing the web, calling a friend, or traveling through a French city, indisponible is the standard signal that something or someone is out of reach. It is a word of utility and polite boundaries.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using indisponible is confusing it with 'occupé'. While both can translate to 'busy', they have different nuances. 'Occupé' usually means someone is actively doing something (e.g., 'Je suis occupé à cuisiner' - I am busy cooking). 'Indisponible' is more about the state of being unreachable or not free for a specific purpose. If you say 'Je suis indisponible', it sounds slightly more professional and definitive. Using 'occupé' for a technical service, like a website being down, would be incorrect; you must use 'indisponible'.

Confusion with 'Non-disponible': Learners often try to create the negative by saying 'non disponible'. While this is sometimes seen in technical lists, 'indisponible' is the standard adjective. 'Non disponible' is more of a status label, whereas 'indisponible' is the proper word for sentences.

Gender Agreement Errors: Even though 'indisponible' is the same for masculine and feminine, students sometimes try to add an extra 'e' for feminine (indisponiblee), which is wrong. The 'e' is already there!

Faux: La voiture est indisponiblée. Correct: La voiture est indisponible.

Another common error is using indisponible when you mean 'unavailable' in the sense of 'not helpful' or 'useless'. In French, 'indisponible' strictly refers to availability in time or space, not the quality of assistance. If a person is there but not helping, you wouldn't say they are 'indisponible'; you might say they are 'peu coopératif' (uncooperative).

Faux: Ce livre est indisponible (meaning the book is useless). Correct: Ce livre est inutile. (Use indisponible only if you can't find the book to buy or borrow).

Faux: Je ne peux pas venir car je suis indisposé. Correct: Je ne peux pas venir car je suis indisponible.

Note: 'Indisposé' means feeling slightly unwell (like having a stomach ache), whereas 'indisponible' means unavailable. Don't mix them up!

Faux: Les serveurs sont occupés. Correct: Les serveurs sont indisponibles (if referring to technical downtime).

The 'Indisposé' Trap: This is a 'false friend' trap. 'Indisposé' is often used by learners who think it sounds like 'indisponible', but it actually refers to physical health (feeling under the weather). Always double-check your choice!

Lastly, avoid using 'indisponible' to mean 'out of work' or 'unemployed'. The correct term for that is 'au chômage'. 'Indisponible' is about a specific window of time or a specific resource, not a general employment status. By keeping these distinctions in mind, you will avoid the most common pitfalls that trip up English speakers.

To truly master the concept of being unavailable in French, it is helpful to know the synonyms and related terms that can be used depending on the register and context. While indisponible is the most standard and versatile word, other options might be more appropriate in specific situations. For example, in a very casual setting among friends, you might say 'Je suis pris' (I am taken/busy) or 'Je ne suis pas libre' (I am not free). These are more common in spoken French than the slightly more formal indisponible.

Occupé vs. Indisponible: 'Occupé' implies an active task. 'Indisponible' implies a state of being unreachable. Use 'occupé' for 'I am busy doing my homework' and 'indisponible' for 'I am unavailable for a meeting'.

En rupture de stock: This is a specific alternative for commercial products. While you can say an article is 'indisponible', 'en rupture de stock' specifically means 'out of stock'.

Je ne peux pas venir dîner, je suis déjà pris ce soir-là.

In professional emails, you might encounter 'non joignable', which specifically means 'unreachable by phone or email'. This is a subset of being indisponible. If someone is 'hors ligne' (offline), they are also technically indisponible in a digital context. For physical items, 'épuisé' is often used for books or tickets that are completely sold out and won't be coming back, whereas indisponible might just mean they are temporarily missing.

Toutes les places pour le concert sont épuisées, elles sont donc indisponibles à la vente.

Désolé, je ne suis pas libre pour t'aider à déménager samedi.

Le site web est hors service pour le moment, donc le formulaire est indisponible.

L'expert est absent, il est donc indisponible pour toute consultation.

Comparing 'Indisponible' and 'Absent': 'Absent' means the person is not there physically. 'Indisponible' means even if they are there, they cannot help you. A person can be present in the office but indisponible because they are on a call.

By learning these alternatives, you expand your vocabulary and can choose the word that fits the 'vibe' of your conversation. Whether you need the formal weight of indisponible or the casual simplicity of 'pas libre', you now have the tools to communicate your lack of availability clearly in any French environment.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The root 'disponere' is the same root for the English word 'dispose'. So, when you are 'indisponible', you are literally 'not able to be disposed of' for a task!

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ɛ̃.dis.pɔ.nibl/

US /ɛ̃.dis.poʊ.nibl/

In French, the stress is usually on the final syllable 'nible'.

Rima con

Possible Visible Sensible Horrible Terrible Pénible Flexible Crédible

Errores comunes

Pronouncing the 'in' like the English word 'in' instead of the French nasal [ɛ̃].
Over-emphasizing the 'o' like 'oh'.
Forgetting the 's' sound in the middle 'dis'.
Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Treating the 'l' as a 'dark l' like in English 'bill' instead of a light French 'l'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like 'unavailable' in structure.

Escritura 3/5

A bit long to spell, but follows standard rules.

Expresión oral 3/5

The nasal 'in' and the '-ble' ending need practice.

Escucha 2/5

Very common in automated messages, easy to pick out.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Disponible Être Temps Occupé Libre

Aprende después

Indisponibilité Inaccessible Rupture de stock Empêchement Contretemps

Avanzado

Inaliénable Inopposable Imprescriptible Infranchissable Inextricable

Gramática que debes saber

Adjective Agreement (Épicène)

Il est indisponible / Elle est indisponible (No change).

Pluralization

Ils sont indisponibles / Elles sont indisponibles (Add 's').

Adverb Placement

Il est actuellement indisponible (Adverb after 'être').

Negation with Adjectives

Il n'est pas indisponible (Double negative, means he is available).

Position of Adjectives

Un serveur indisponible (After the noun).

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Ejemplos por nivel

Je suis indisponible ce soir.

I am unavailable this evening.

Subject 'Je' + verb 'être' + adjective 'indisponible'.

Le taxi est indisponible.

The taxi is unavailable.

The adjective matches the masculine singular noun 'taxi'.

Elle est indisponible pour le moment.

She is unavailable for the moment.

Note that 'indisponible' does not change for feminine singular.

Le livre est indisponible en bibliothèque.

The book is unavailable in the library.

Used as an attribute after the verb 'être'.

Tu es indisponible demain ?

Are you unavailable tomorrow?

A simple question using intonation.

Désolé, je suis indisponible.

Sorry, I am unavailable.

Common polite refusal.

Ce numéro est indisponible.

This number is unavailable.

'Ce numéro' is the subject.

Le café est indisponible.

The coffee is unavailable.

Refers to the item not being available.

L'article est actuellement indisponible en magasin.

The item is currently unavailable in the store.

Adverb 'actuellement' modifies the adjective.

Les médecins sont indisponibles cet après-midi.

The doctors are unavailable this afternoon.

Plural agreement: 'indisponibles' with an 's'.

Le service client est indisponible le dimanche.

Customer service is unavailable on Sundays.

State of a service.

Cette option est indisponible sur votre téléphone.

This option is unavailable on your phone.

Technical availability.

Nous sommes indisponibles pour la réunion de dix heures.

We are unavailable for the ten o'clock meeting.

Plural subject 'Nous' requires 'indisponibles'.

Ma voiture est indisponible car elle est au garage.

My car is unavailable because it is at the garage.

Explaining the reason for unavailability.

Le directeur est indisponible jusqu'à lundi.

The director is unavailable until Monday.

Using 'jusqu'à' to show duration.

Toutes les chambres sont indisponibles ce soir.

All the rooms are unavailable tonight.

Feminine plural noun 'chambres' + 'indisponibles'.

Le site web est momentanément indisponible pour maintenance.

The website is momentarily unavailable for maintenance.

Common technical phrase.

Je m'excuse, mais je serai indisponible pour toute la durée du stage.

I apologize, but I will be unavailable for the entire duration of the internship.

Future tense 'serai'.

L'expert est indisponible pour commenter cette décision.

The expert is unavailable to comment on this decision.

Professional context.

Ces données restent indisponibles pour le grand public.

These data remain unavailable to the general public.

Using 'rester' as a state verb.

Il semble indisponible émotionnellement après sa rupture.

He seems emotionally unavailable after his breakup.

Abstract usage of the word.

Le médicament est indisponible en raison d'une rupture de stock nationale.

The medicine is unavailable due to a national stock shortage.

Formal explanation of unavailability.

Si vous êtes indisponible, merci de nous prévenir à l'avance.

If you are unavailable, please let us know in advance.

Conditional 'si' clause.

La salle de sport sera indisponible pendant les travaux de rénovation.

The gym will be unavailable during the renovation works.

Future tense with a time frame.

Le ministre est resté indisponible malgré nos multiples sollicitations.

The minister remained unavailable despite our multiple requests.

Formal journalistic style.

Certaines archives historiques sont encore indisponibles à la consultation.

Certain historical archives are still unavailable for consultation.

Nuanced academic context.

Le joueur vedette est indisponible pour le match crucial de demain soir.

The star player is unavailable for tomorrow night's crucial match.

Sports context meaning 'injured' or 'suspended'.

L'application affiche que le serveur est indisponible de manière persistante.

The application shows that the server is persistently unavailable.

Complex adverbial phrase.

Il est vain de le contacter car il est totalement indisponible aux critiques.

It is futile to contact him because he is totally unavailable to criticism.

Metaphorical/Psychological usage.

Les fonds de la succession sont indisponibles jusqu'au règlement final.

The estate funds are unavailable until the final settlement.

Legal/Financial context.

Bien que présent physiquement, il paraissait indisponible mentalement.

Although physically present, he seemed mentally unavailable.

Contrast between presence and availability.

L'accès au site est indisponible en raison de conditions météorologiques extrêmes.

Access to the site is unavailable due to extreme weather conditions.

Formal cause and effect.

La part indisponible du capital social garantit la stabilité de l'entreprise.

The unavailable portion of the share capital guarantees the company's stability.

Highly technical legal/financial usage.

L'œuvre d'art est indisponible au prêt pour des raisons de conservation.

The artwork is unavailable for loan for conservation reasons.

Specific institutional register.

Il s'est rendu indisponible pour se consacrer pleinement à son œuvre littéraire.

He made himself unavailable to devote himself fully to his literary work.

Reflexive verb 'se rendre' + adjective.

Cette ressource naturelle est indisponible dans l'état actuel des technologies.

This natural resource is unavailable in the current state of technology.

Scientific/Technological context.

L'accusé a été déclaré indisponible pour son procès pour des raisons de santé mentale.

The accused was declared unavailable for his trial for mental health reasons.

Legal terminology.

Le silence de l'auteur le rend mystérieusement indisponible à ses lecteurs.

The author's silence makes him mysteriously unavailable to his readers.

Literary analysis.

Les créneaux horaires sont tous indisponibles en raison de la forte demande.

The time slots are all unavailable due to high demand.

Logistical context.

Une telle somme reste indisponible sans l'accord préalable de tous les héritiers.

Such a sum remains unavailable without the prior agreement of all heirs.

Complex conditional structure.

L'indisponibilité du sujet face à l'appel de l'autre constitue un thème central de sa philosophie.

The subject's unavailability in the face of the other's call constitutes a central theme of his philosophy.

Noun form 'indisponibilité' used in a philosophical argument.

Le magistrat a souligné que les preuves étaient indisponibles au moment des faits.

The magistrate pointed out that the evidence was unavailable at the time of the events.

Precise legal timing.

La poésie tente de saisir ce qui, dans le réel, demeure obstinément indisponible au langage.

Poetry attempts to grasp what, in reality, remains stubbornly unavailable to language.

Abstract literary/philosophical usage.

Le système bancaire a gelé les avoirs, les rendant ainsi indisponibles pour toute transaction.

The banking system froze the assets, thus making them unavailable for any transaction.

Gerund 'rendant' + adjective.

Elle cultive une forme de retrait qui la rend indisponible aux sollicitations mondaines.

She cultivates a form of withdrawal that makes her unavailable to social solicitations.

Sophisticated character description.

L'information, bien que publique, est rendue indisponible par une bureaucratie opaque.

The information, although public, is made unavailable by an opaque bureaucracy.

Political/Social critique.

L'espace disque est indisponible suite à une corruption massive du système de fichiers.

Disk space is unavailable following massive corruption of the file system.

Advanced technical jargon.

Le destinataire est indisponible, son compte ayant été suspendu par l'administrateur.

The recipient is unavailable, their account having been suspended by the administrator.

Participial phrase 'ayant été suspendu'.

Colocaciones comunes

Temporairement indisponible

Actuellement indisponible

Être indisponible pour

Se rendre indisponible

Rester indisponible

Devenir indisponible

Service indisponible

Correspondant indisponible

Indisponible émotionnellement

Indisponible à la vente

Frases Comunes

Momentanément indisponible

— Briefly unavailable, often used for technical issues.

Le serveur est momentanément indisponible.

Article indisponible

— The product is out of stock or not for sale.

L'article indisponible sera de retour bientôt.

Je suis indisponible.

— I am busy or cannot meet right now.

Je suis indisponible jusqu'à demain.

Désolé, c'est indisponible.

— A polite way to say something cannot be provided.

Désolé, ce service est indisponible.

Page indisponible

— The web page cannot be found or loaded.

Erreur 404 : Page indisponible.

Rendre indisponible

— To make something or someone unavailable.

Sa blessure l'a rendu indisponible.

Indisponible par téléphone

— Cannot be reached via a phone call.

Elle est indisponible par téléphone le soir.

Indisponible pour travaux

— Unavailable due to construction or repairs.

La piscine est indisponible pour travaux.

Totalement indisponible

— Completely unreachable or out of reach.

Il est totalement indisponible ce mois-ci.

Indisponible au public

— Not accessible to the general population.

Le jardin est indisponible au public.

Se confunde a menudo con

indisponible vs Indisposé

Means feeling slightly sick or having a period. Often confused by learners.

indisponible vs Inaccessible

Means something cannot be reached at all, often due to physical barriers.

indisponible vs Occupé

Means busy doing a specific task. 'Indisponible' is more general unavailability.

Modismos y expresiones

"Être aux abonnés absents"

— To be completely unreachable, as if one has disappeared.

J'ai essayé de l'appeler, mais il est aux abonnés absents.

Informal

"Faire faux bond"

— To let someone down by not showing up (making oneself unavailable at the last minute).

Il m'a fait faux bond pour le dîner.

Neutral

"Avoir un empêchement"

— To have something come up that makes you unavailable.

J'ai un empêchement de dernière minute.

Neutral

"Être débordé"

— To be so busy that you are completely unavailable.

Je suis débordé de travail.

Neutral

"Ne plus savoir où donner de la tête"

— To be so busy and unavailable due to having too much to do.

Avec ce projet, je ne sais plus où donner de la tête.

Informal

"Être charrette"

— Architectural/Professional slang for being extremely busy and unavailable to meet a deadline.

Je ne peux pas sortir, je suis charrette.

Informal/Slang

"Être sous l'eau"

— To be overwhelmed and thus unavailable.

Désolé, je suis complètement sous l'eau en ce moment.

Informal

"Jouer les prolongations"

— To stay unavailable longer than expected (often in sports or meetings).

La réunion joue les prolongations, je suis encore indisponible.

Neutral

"Passer entre les mailles du filet"

— To remain unavailable or unreachable by design or luck.

Il a réussi à passer entre les mailles du filet.

Neutral

"Mettre au placard"

— To make someone professionally 'unavailable' by giving them no work.

Depuis la fusion, il a été mis au placard.

Informal

Fácil de confundir

indisponible vs Indisposé

Sounds very similar to 'indisponible'.

'Indisposé' refers to health/feeling sick. 'Indisponible' refers to time/availability. If you say you are 'indisposé' to a boss, they might think you have a headache.

Je suis indisposé (I feel sick) vs Je suis indisponible (I am busy).

indisponible vs Inoccupé

Antonym of 'occupé'.

'Inoccupé' means vacant or idle (like an empty seat). 'Indisponible' means taken or busy.

Le siège est inoccupé (The seat is free) vs La place est indisponible (The place is reserved).

indisponible vs Indispensable

Similar length and prefix.

'Indispensable' means essential or necessary. 'Indisponible' means unavailable.

Cet outil est indispensable (This tool is essential) vs Cet outil est indisponible (This tool is not here).

indisponible vs Inatteignable

Similar meaning of 'not reachable'.

'Inatteignable' is more extreme, meaning unreachable or unattainable (like a dream). 'Indisponible' is usually situational.

Un rêve inatteignable vs Un produit indisponible.

indisponible vs Désactivé

Used in technology.

'Désactivé' means turned off by choice. 'Indisponible' means it might be there but can't be used right now.

Le compte est désactivé vs Le service est indisponible.

Patrones de oraciones

Je suis indisponible [time].

Je suis indisponible ce soir.

L'article est indisponible en [place].

L'article est indisponible en magasin.

Le service est [adverb] indisponible pour [reason].

Le service est momentanément indisponible pour maintenance.

Se rendre indisponible pour [purpose].

Il se rend indisponible pour ses enfants.

Déclarer [noun] indisponible.

Le juge a déclaré les fonds indisponibles.

L'indisponibilité de [concept] face à [concept].

L'indisponibilité de la vérité face au mensonge.

Est-ce que [subject] est indisponible ?

Est-ce que la salle est indisponible ?

Bien que [subject] soit indisponible...

Bien que le directeur soit indisponible, nous pouvons commencer.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

L'indisponibilité (unavailability)

Verbos

Indisponibiliser (to make unavailable - rare/technical)

Adjetivos

Disponible (available)

Indisponible (unavailable)

Relacionado

Disposer

Disposition

Dispositif

Disponible

Indisposé

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

High (Top 2000 words).

Errores comunes

Using 'indisponible' for 'occupied' in a bathroom. → Occupé
If a bathroom stall is taken, the sign says 'Occupé', not 'Indisponible'.
Adding an extra 'e' for feminine: 'indisponiblee'. → indisponible
The word already ends in 'e', so it doesn't change for the feminine singular.
Pronouncing the 'n' in 'in-'. → [ɛ̃] (nasal)
French nasal vowels don't pronounce the 'n'. It should sound like the vowel in 'cat' but through your nose.
Saying 'Je suis indisposé' to mean 'I am busy'. → Je suis indisponible
'Indisposé' means feeling unwell. It's a classic false friend mistake.
Forgetting the 's' for plural: 'Ils sont indisponible'. → Ils sont indisponibles
Adjectives must agree in number with the noun they modify.

Consejos

Easy Agreement

Don't stress about gender with this word! Since it already ends in 'e', it's the same for everyone. Just remember the 's' for plural.

The Polite Refusal

If someone invites you somewhere and you can't go, 'Je suis indisponible' is a very safe and polite way to decline without needing to give a long excuse.

Web Errors

When you see 'Service indisponible' on a French website, it usually means their server is having issues. It's the French equivalent of 'Service Unavailable'.

Check the Button

If the 'Buy' button is grey and says 'Indisponible', don't keep clicking! It means they are out of stock.

Nasal 'In'

The first sound is the most important. Practice saying 'vin' (wine) and then transition to 'in-disponible' to get that nasal sound right.

Email Etiquette

In an out-of-office reply, write 'Je suis actuellement indisponible' to tell colleagues you aren't checking emails.

Not Sick!

Never use 'indisposé' when you mean 'unavailable'. You'll end up telling people you're feeling sick or have a stomach ache!

Messaging Apps

Set your status on apps like Teams or Slack to 'Indisponible' when you need to focus and don't want to be disturbed.

Phone Messages

Listen for the word 'signal' after 'indisponible' on a voicemail; that's your cue to start talking after the beep.

Plural Check

In sentences like 'Les places sont indisponibles', the 's' is silent in speech but mandatory in writing. Don't forget it!

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'IN-DIS-PO-NIBLE'. 'IN' (not) + 'DISPO' (disposable/available). If you can't dispose of your time, you are indisponible.

Asociación visual

Imagine a red 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign on a hotel door. That sign is the visual definition of 'indisponible'.

Word Web

Indisponibilité Disponible Occupé Libre Pris Absent Rupture Service

Desafío

Try to use 'indisponible' in three different ways today: once for your schedule, once for a missing item, and once for a technical problem.

Origen de la palabra

The word comes from the combination of the Latin prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') and the French word 'disponible'. 'Disponible' itself comes from the Latin 'disponibilis', derived from 'disponere' (to arrange, to set in order).

Significado original: The original sense was related to something that cannot be 'disposed of' or 'arranged' for a particular use.

Romance (Latin-based).

Contexto cultural

Be careful not to confuse 'indisponible' (unavailable) with 'indisposé' (feeling unwell/having a period). Using the wrong one can lead to TMI (Too Much Information) situations.

English speakers often say 'I'm busy', but in French, 'Je suis indisponible' is often a better fit for professional or semi-formal situations.

Automated Orange/SFR phone messages. Error 404 pages on French government websites. Sports injury reports in 'L'Équipe'.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Professional / Office

Je suis indisponible pour le moment.
Le directeur est indisponible.
Créneau indisponible.
Réunion indisponible.

E-commerce / Shopping

Article indisponible.
Produit actuellement indisponible.
Temporairement indisponible.
Indisponible en magasin.

Technology / IT

Serveur indisponible.
Page indisponible.
Service indisponible.
Connexion indisponible.

Sports / Health

Joueur indisponible.
Indisponible pour blessure.
Indisponible pour six mois.
Forfait : indisponible.

Telecommunications

Correspondant indisponible.
Numéro indisponible.
Ligne indisponible.
Réseau indisponible.

Inicios de conversación

"Est-ce que vous seriez indisponible pour un déjeuner demain ?"

"Pourquoi ce produit est-il toujours indisponible sur votre site ?"

"Je suis vraiment désolé, je suis indisponible toute la semaine prochaine."

"Savez-vous si le médecin est indisponible pour une urgence ?"

"Est-ce que l'ascenseur est toujours indisponible ?"

Temas para diario

Décrivez une journée où vous étiez totalement indisponible pour tout le monde. Pourquoi ?

Que faites-vous quand votre site web préféré est indisponible ?

Avez-vous déjà essayé d'acheter un article qui était indisponible partout ?

Est-il important d'être parfois indisponible émotionnellement pour se protéger ?

Comment gérez-vous une personne qui est toujours indisponible quand vous avez besoin d'elle ?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, 'indisponible' is an épicène adjective. It ends in 'e' in its base form, so it is the same for both masculine and feminine singular subjects. For example, 'Il est indisponible' and 'Elle est indisponible' are both correct.

You can use 'indisponible', but 'en rupture de stock' is more specific. On websites, you will often see 'Article indisponible' when something cannot be purchased.

'Occupé' means 'busy' (doing a task). 'Indisponible' means 'unavailable' (cannot be reached or free for a meeting). 'Indisponible' is generally more formal and used in professional contexts.

Both! You can say a person is indisponible (busy) or a thing is indisponible (out of stock, broken, or restricted).

Yes, 'L'ascenseur est indisponible' is a very common way to say the elevator is out of service, often followed by 'pour maintenance'.

It is a nasal vowel [ɛ̃]. It sounds like the 'in' in the French word 'vin' (wine). Do not pronounce the 'n' like you do in English.

The plural is 'indisponibles'. You simply add an 's' to the end. It is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.

This is a standard phrase used by phone companies. It means the person you are trying to call is unavailable (their phone is off, they are on another call, or they didn't answer).

Yes, the noun is 'l'indisponibilité' (feminine), which means 'unavailability'.

Yes, it is extremely common in everyday French, especially in emails, technology, and customer service.

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