TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

By Roberto PesantesEnglish Language Consultant

TELEPHONE TERMS

• ANSWER

• ANSWERING MACHINE

• BUSY SIGNAL

• CALL

• CALLER

• CALL BACK / PHONE BACK

• CALL DISPLAY

• CELLULAR PHONE / CELL PHONE

• CORDLESS PHONE

• DIAL TONE

• DIAL

• DIRECTORY / PHONE BOOK

• HANG UP

• PHONE

• PHONE BOOTH / PAY PHONE

• PICK UP

• RECEIVER

• RING

TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

• ANSWERING THE PHONE

• INTRODUCING YOURSELF (THE CALLER)

• ASKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE

• GIVING DETAIL OF A CALL

• TAKING A MESSAGE FOR SOMEONE

• LEAVING A MESSAGE WITH SOMEONE

• ASKING SOMEONE TO WAIT

• CONNECTING SOMEONE

• PROBLEMS

• MISTAKES

• CONFIRMING INFORMATION

• FINISHING A CONVERSATION

ANSWERING THE PHONE

• HELLO (INFORMAL)

• GOOD MORNING (FORMAL)

• (YOUR NAME) SPEAKING. HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

• (COMPANY’S NAME). HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

INTRODUCING YOURSELF (CALLER)

• HI. IT’S (YOUR NAME).

• GOOD MORNING. THIS IS (YOUR NAME) CALLING.

ASKING TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE

• IS SARA IN? (INFORMAL)

• IS MR. TORRES THERE, PLEASE?

• CAN I TALK TO MR. TORRES, PLEASE?

• I’D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH MR. TORRES,

PLEASE.

GIVING DETAIL OF A CALL

• I’M CALLING ABOUT (…)

• I’M CALLING TO CONFIRM THE MEETING TOMORROW.

• IT’S ABOUT THE JOB ADVERTISING

TAKING A MESSAGE FOR SOMEONE

• WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE?

• WHO’S CALLING, PLEASE?

• MAY I TAKE A MESSAGE?

LEAVING A MESSAGE WITH SOMEONE

• CAN YOU TELL HER / HIM THAT (YOUR NAME)

CALLED?

• NO. THAT’S OK. I’LL CALL BACK LATER.

• THANKS. COULD YOU ASK HER / HIM TO CALL

(YOUR NAME) WHEN HE / SHE GETS IN?

• MY NUMBER IS 345-3232

ASKING SOMEONE TO WAIT

• JUST A SECOND, PLEASE.

• HANG ON A SECOND (INFORMAL)

• PLEASE HOLD THE LINE.

• ONE MOMENT PLEASE.

CONNECTING SOMEONE

• I’LL PUT YOU THROUGH

• I’M SORRY BUT HE / SHE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE

MOMENT.

• I’M SORRY BUT HE / SHE IS NOT IN HIS / HER

OFFICE.

• SHE / HE IS IN A MEETING RIGHT NOW.

PROBLEMS

• I’M SORRY SHE / HE IS NOT HERE AT THE

MOMENT.

MISTAKES

• I’M SORRY, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE THE WRONG

NUMBER.

• I’M AFRAID THERE IS NO ONE HERE WITH THAT

NAME.

• ARE YOU SURE YOU GOT THE RIGHT NUMBER?

CONFIRMING INFORMATION

• OK, I’VE GOT THAT.

• WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPEAT THAT FOR ME

PLEASE.

• LET ME REPEAT THAT BACK TO YOU JUST TO

MAKE SURE.

• DID YOU SAY TOM OR JOHN?

FINISHING THE CONVERSATION

• WELL. I’LL TALK TO YOU SOON.

• SORRY BUT I HAVE ANOTHER CALL COMING

THROUGH.

• OK, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

LET’S GET SOME PRACTICE