Telephone Vocabulary

Making contact

• 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

• I'm calling from Tokyo/Paris/New York/Sydney
• I'm calling on behalf of (Mr. X ...)

Taking a call

• 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

Connecting

• 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.

Telephone problems

• 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?