TELEPHONING
Useful telephone vocabulary and phrases in English


  ►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?

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

►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?