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Phrasebook

English Phrases for Phone Calls

Phone calls feel harder than face-to-face talk because you cannot see the other person. These phrases help you open, manage and close a call with confidence.

37 phrases · By LearnLingo Team · Updated

Tap to hear a phrase. Levels follow the CEFR scale. American English is the default; British variants are noted.

Answering the phone

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Hello?

A1

Normal for personal calls. At work, say your name or company.

Alo?
  • Hi, is that Mark?
  • Hey, it's me.

Hello, this is Emma speaking.

A1

On the phone, say "this is", not "I am".

Merhaba, ben Emma.
  • Hi Emma, it's Tom from accounts.

Good morning, Green Design. How can I help you?

A2

Standard way to answer a business line.

Günaydın, Green Design. Size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?
  • Hi, I'm calling about my order.
  • Could I speak to the manager, please?

Who's calling, please?

A2

Polite way to ask for the caller's name.

Kim arıyor acaba?
  • It's David Clark from Brightline.

Speaking.

B1

Reply when someone asks for you by name.

Benim.
  • Oh, hi! I didn't recognize your voice.

Making a call and asking for someone

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Hi, this is Ayşe calling from LearnLingo.

A2
Merhaba, ben LearnLingo'dan Ayşe.
  • Hi Ayşe, what can I do for you?

Could I speak to Mr. Brown, please?

A2

UK also: "Could I speak to Mr Brown?" (no period after Mr).

Bay Brown ile görüşebilir miyim, lütfen?
  • Just a moment, please.
  • I'm afraid he's not available.

Is Sarah there?

A1

Informal, for friends and family.

Sarah orada mı?
  • Yes, hang on.
  • No, she's out.

I'm calling about the job ad.

A2

Use "calling about" to state your reason.

İş ilanı için arıyorum.
  • Great, let me put you through to HR.

I'm returning your call.

B1
Aramanıza dönüyorum.
  • Thanks for getting back to me.

Is this a good time to talk?

B1

Polite check before a longer call.

Şu an konuşmak için uygun musunuz?
  • Sure, go ahead.
  • Actually, can I call you back in ten minutes?

Sorry, I think I have the wrong number.

A2
Pardon, galiba yanlış numarayı aradım.
  • No problem.
  • Who are you trying to reach?

Putting someone through and on hold

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Hold on, please.

A1

Informal: "Hang on a sec."

Bir saniye, lütfen.
  • Sure.

I'll put you through.

B1

Means connecting the caller to another person.

Sizi bağlıyorum.
  • Thank you.

Could you hold for a moment?

A2
Biraz bekleyebilir misiniz?
  • Yes, of course.
  • Actually, I'm in a hurry.

Thanks for holding.

A2
Beklediğiniz için teşekkürler.
  • No problem.

I'm afraid she's in a meeting right now.

B1

"I'm afraid" softens bad news.

Maalesef kendisi şu an toplantıda.
  • When will she be free?
  • Can I leave a message?

Her line is busy.

A2

UK: "Her line is engaged."

Hattı meşgul.
  • I'll try again later.

Messages and voicemail

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Can I leave a message?

A2
Mesaj bırakabilir miyim?
  • Of course. Go ahead.

Would you like to leave a message?

A2
Mesaj bırakmak ister misiniz?
  • Yes, please.
  • No thanks, I'll call back later.

Could you ask him to call me back?

A2
Beni geri aramasını söyleyebilir misiniz?
  • Sure. What's your number?

Can I take your number?

A2

Say phone numbers digit by digit. "0" is often "oh".

Numaranızı alabilir miyim?
  • Yes, it's 0532...

I'll tell her you called.

A2
Aradığınızı ona söylerim.
  • Thanks a lot.

Hi, it's Mehmet. Please call me back when you get this.

B1

A typical voicemail. Say your name and number slowly.

Merhaba, ben Mehmet. Bu mesajı alınca beni ara lütfen.
  • (no reply: voicemail)

Problems on the line

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Sorry, I can't hear you very well.

A2
Pardon, sizi pek iyi duyamıyorum.
  • Is that better?

You're breaking up.

B1

Used when the signal is bad.

Sesin kesik kesik geliyor.
  • Sorry, I'm in the car. Let me call you back.

Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?

A1
Biraz daha yavaş konuşabilir misiniz, lütfen?
  • Of course, sorry.

Could you repeat that, please?

A1
Tekrar eder misiniz, lütfen?
  • Sure. I said Thursday at ten.

Could you spell that for me?

A2

Learn the English alphabet sounds: "e" and "i" confuse Turkish speakers.

Harf harf söyleyebilir misiniz?
  • Sure. It's K-E-L-L-Y.

I think we got cut off.

B1
Galiba hat kesildi.
  • Yes, sorry about that.

Let me call you back on a better line.

B2
Daha iyi bir hattan seni geri arayayım.
  • Okay, talk soon.

Ending the call

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Thanks for calling.

A1
Aradığınız için teşekkürler.
  • Thank you. Bye.

Thanks for your help. Bye!

A1
Yardımınız için teşekkürler. Hoşça kalın!
  • You're welcome. Bye!

I'd better let you go.

B2

A friendly, polite way to start ending a call.

Seni daha fazla tutmayayım.
  • Okay, it was good to talk.

Talk to you soon.

A2
Görüşürüz.
  • Yeah, talk soon!

I'll send you an email to confirm.

B1
Teyit için size bir e-posta göndereceğim.
  • Perfect, thanks.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

B1
Yardımcı olabileceğim başka bir şey var mı?
  • No, that's everything. Thanks.

Sample dialogues

Calling an office

Receptionist
Good morning, Bright Office Supplies. How can I help you?
Günaydın, Bright Office Supplies. Size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?
Caller
Hi, this is Kerem Yıldız. Could I speak to Ms. Lee, please?
Merhaba, ben Kerem Yıldız. Bayan Lee ile görüşebilir miyim, lütfen?
Receptionist
I'm afraid she's in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?
Maalesef kendisi şu an toplantıda. Mesaj bırakmak ister misiniz?
Caller
Yes, please. Could you ask her to call me back?
Evet, lütfen. Beni geri aramasını söyleyebilir misiniz?
Receptionist
Of course. Can I take your number?
Tabii. Numaranızı alabilir miyim?
Caller
It's 0532 410 7788.
Numaram 0532 410 7788.
Receptionist
Thank you. I'll tell her you called.
Teşekkürler. Aradığınızı ona söylerim.
Caller
Thanks for your help. Bye.
Yardımınız için teşekkürler. Hoşça kalın.

A bad line

Ela
Hi Sam, it's Ela. Is this a good time?
Selam Sam, ben Ela. Uygun musun?
Sam
Sure. Sorry, you're breaking up a bit.
Tabii. Pardon, sesin biraz kesik geliyor.
Ela
I'm on the train. Can you hear me now?
Trendeyim. Şimdi duyabiliyor musun?
Sam
Better. What time is dinner on Friday?
Daha iyi. Cuma akşamki yemek saat kaçta?
Ela
Seven thirty. Could you tell Mia too?
Yedi buçukta. Mia'ya da söyleyebilir misin?
Sam
Sorry, could you repeat that?
Pardon, tekrar eder misin?
Ela
Seven thirty. I'll text you the details.
Yedi buçuk. Detayları sana mesaj atarım.
Sam
Great. Talk to you soon!
Harika. Görüşürüz!

Common mistakes Turkish speakers make

Hello, I am Emma.

Hello, this is Emma.

On the phone English uses "this is" to introduce yourself, not "I am".

Who are you?

Who's calling, please?

"Who are you?" sounds rude. Turkish "Kimsiniz?" is fine, but the English version is too direct.

Can you call me again?

Can you call me back?

"Call back" means return a call. "Again" just means one more time.

I am calling for the job ad.

I'm calling about the job ad.

Turkish "için" often becomes "for", but the reason for a call takes "about".

Please wait the line.

Please hold. / Could you hold, please?

"Hattı bekleyin" is translated word for word. English uses the verb "hold".

Quick quiz

Eight questions to check what you remember. Pick an answer to see if it is right.

  1. 1. How do you introduce yourself on the phone?

  2. 2. The line is bad. What do you say?

  3. 3. Choose the polite question.

  4. 4. "Sizi bağlıyorum" in English is...

  5. 5. Complete: "I'm calling ___ your order."

  6. 6. In British English, a busy line is...

  7. 7. Someone asks "Can I speak to Ayşe?" and you are Ayşe. You say...

  8. 8. Which phrase politely starts ending a call?

0 of 8 answered

Show all answers
  1. This is Ali.
  2. You're breaking up.
  3. Who's calling, please?
  4. I'll put you through.
  5. about
  6. engaged
  7. Speaking.
  8. I'd better let you go.

See what the A2 English course covers, or test your level first.

People also ask

How do I say a phone number in English?+

Say each digit separately and group them in threes or fours. Many speakers say "oh" for zero, and "double" for repeated digits, for example "double five".

Why are phone calls harder than face-to-face conversations?+

You cannot see lips, gestures or facial expressions, and the sound quality is often worse. Asking people to repeat or slow down is normal, even for native speakers.

What is the difference between "call back" and "call again"?+

"Call back" means returning a call or phoning someone who phoned you. "Call again" only means making another call, for example after the line drops.

How do I leave a good voicemail?+

Say your name, the reason for your call and your number, and speak slowly. Repeat the number at the end so the person can write it down.

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