TELEPHONE
Useful telephone vocabulary and phrases in English
 

• Hello/Good morning/Good afternoon ..
• This is John Brown speaking.
• Could I speak to .......... please?
  I'd like to speak to .......... please. 
• I'm trying to contact ..........

 
  ►Giving more

information
 

• X speaking
• Can I help you?

  ►Asking for a name/

information
 

• Who's calling please?
• Who's speaking?
• Where are you calling from?
• Are you sure you have the right number/name?

  ►Asking the caller to

wait

• Hold the line please
• Could you hold on please
• Just a moment please

• Thank you for holding
• The line's free now  ..... I'll put you through
• I'll connect you now / I'm connecting you now.

  ►Giving negative

information
 

• I'm afraid the line's engaged.   Could you call back later?
• I'm afraid he's in a meeting at the moment
• I'm sorry.  He's out of the office today / He isn't in at the moment.
• I'm afraid we don't have a Mr/Mrs/Miss ... here
• I'm sorry.  There's nobody here by that name.
• Sorry.  I think you've dialled the wrong number.
             I'm afraid you've got the wrong number.

• The line is very bad.  Could you speak up please?
• Could you repeat that please?
• I'm afraid I can't hear you.
• Sorry.  I didn't catch that.  Could you say that again please?

 
   ►Leaving/taking a

                message
 

• Can I leave/take a message?
• Would you like to leave a message?
• Could you give him/her a message?
• Could you ask him/her to call me back?
• Would you like him/her to call you back?
• Could you tell him/her that I called?
• Could you give me your name please?
• Could you spell that please?
• What's your number please?