In 15 Seconds
- Use it to report any plumbing issue or water drip.
- Works perfectly with landlords, plumbers, or roommates.
- Very common in daily life and apartment living.
Meaning
This is the most common way to say there is a water leak. It is a simple, direct statement used to report a plumbing issue or a spill.
Key Examples
3 of 6Calling the landlord
يا فندم، في تسريب مياه في الحمام.
Sir, there is a water leak in the bathroom.
Texting a roommate
الحق! في تسريب مياه تحت الحوض.
Help! There's a water leak under the sink.
At a hotel reception
لو سمحت، في تسريب مياه من السقف.
Excuse me, there is a water leak from the ceiling.
Cultural Background
Water is a highly valued resource in the Middle East due to the arid climate. Reporting a leak is considered a civic duty to prevent waste. While the phrase is modern, the urgency of fixing water issues is rooted in centuries of desert living.
The 'Fi' Shortcut
In spoken Arabic, `في` (Fi) is your best friend. It replaces 'there is' and 'there are' for almost everything.
Don't confuse with 'Gas'
If you smell gas, say `في ريحة غاز`. Using `تسريب` for gas is technically correct but `ريحة` (smell) is more common for safety.
In 15 Seconds
- Use it to report any plumbing issue or water drip.
- Works perfectly with landlords, plumbers, or roommates.
- Very common in daily life and apartment living.
What It Means
في تسريب مياه is your go-to phrase for any unwanted water. It literally means "there is a leak of water." It is simple and gets straight to the point. You use it when you see a dripping faucet. You use it when the ceiling looks damp. It is the universal signal for "call the plumber."
How To Use It
Just point and say it. You don't need complex grammar here. Start with في (there is) followed by تسريب (leak). If you want to be specific, add the location. For example, في تسريب مياه في المطبخ (There's a leak in the kitchen). It works like a charm every time. It is a survival phrase for anyone living in an apartment.
When To Use It
Use it the moment you see a puddle. Use it when talking to your landlord or a repairman. It is perfect for texting your roommate about the sink. It is also useful in a hotel if the shower is acting up. It conveys urgency without needing to be dramatic. It is practical and clear.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for a heavy rainstorm outside. That is just weather, not a "leak." Avoid using it if someone just spilled a glass of water. That is a دلق (spill), not a تسريب (leak). It is specifically for structural or plumbing failures. Don't use it to describe a secret being told; that is a different kind of "leak."
Cultural Background
In many Arabic-speaking cities, water conservation is a big deal. A leak isn't just a mess; it is a waste of a precious resource. Reporting a leak quickly is seen as being a responsible neighbor. Plumbers, or سباكين, are the local heroes in these situations. They have their own lingo, but this phrase is your bridge to them.
Common Variations
In different dialects, the word for "there is" might change. In Egypt, you might hear فيه تسريب مياه. In the Levant, it might sound like في تهريب مي. The word مياه (water) often shortens to مية in daily speech. Regardless of the tweak, the core word تسريب remains widely understood across the region.
Usage Notes
This phrase is perfectly neutral and safe for all situations. In Egyptian dialect, you'll likely hear 'Fiye' instead of 'Fi', and 'Mayya' instead of 'Miyah'.
The 'Fi' Shortcut
In spoken Arabic, `في` (Fi) is your best friend. It replaces 'there is' and 'there are' for almost everything.
Don't confuse with 'Gas'
If you smell gas, say `في ريحة غاز`. Using `تسريب` for gas is technically correct but `ريحة` (smell) is more common for safety.
The Plumber's Secret
If a plumber says `بسيطة` (simple) after you report a leak, it usually means he'll fix it in five minutes with a wrench.
Examples
6يا فندم، في تسريب مياه في الحمام.
Sir, there is a water leak in the bathroom.
Adding 'ya fandem' makes it polite for a landlord.
الحق! في تسريب مياه تحت الحوض.
Help! There's a water leak under the sink.
'Elha'!' adds a sense of urgency.
لو سمحت، في تسريب مياه من السقف.
Excuse me, there is a water leak from the ceiling.
Essential for getting a room change.
مش عارف فين، بس في تسريب مياه هنا.
I don't know where, but there's a water leak here.
Useful when you can see water but not the source.
شكله في تسريب مياه في عيوني.
It looks like there's a water leak in my eyes.
A funny way to say you are crying during a movie.
في تسريب مياه كبير في الشارع.
There is a big water leak in the street.
Used for a burst main pipe.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the phrase for a leak in the kitchen.
في ___ مياه في المطبخ.
`تسريب` is the specific word for a leak.
How do you say 'There is' in this context?
___ تسريب مياه.
`في` is used here to mean 'there is' or 'there exists'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'في تسريب مياه'
Texting a friend about a spill.
في تسريب!
Standard way to report a repair.
في تسريب مياه.
Official report to a building manager.
يوجد تسريب مياه.
When to use 'في تسريب مياه'
Kitchen sink dripping
تحت الحوض
Bathroom floor wet
أرضية الحمام
Ceiling stain
من السقف
Broken garden pipe
في الجنينة
Practice Bank
2 exercisesفي ___ مياه في المطبخ.
`تسريب` is the specific word for a leak.
___ تسريب مياه.
`في` is used here to mean 'there is' or 'there exists'.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIn this context, في means 'there is'. It is a very versatile word used in daily conversation.
Yes, you can say في تسريب غاز, but usually people just say في ريحة غاز (there is a smell of gas).
Yes, تسريب is standard Arabic and understood everywhere, though some dialects might use تهريب instead.
You can say في تسريب مياه كبير. Just add كبير (big) at the end.
It is neutral. You can use it with your brother or with a professional plumber.
In most dialects, مياه becomes مية (mayya) or مي (mayy).
Just change your intonation to a question: في تسريب مياه؟ (Is there a water leak?).
Technically yes, تسريب معلومات means an information leak, but it's more common in news than in daily talk.
Say في تسريب مياه من السقف (There is a water leak from the ceiling).
There isn't a direct opposite, but you could say مفيش مشاكل (there are no problems) or الماسورة سليمة (the pipe is intact).
Related Phrases
السباك جاي
The plumber is coming
الماسورة مكسورة
The pipe is broken
المية مقطوعة
The water is cut off
حنفية بتنقط
A dripping faucet
