Phone calls: making, taking and leaving messages: Spoken English: Zero to Fluent (Intermediate)

On the phone you cannot use your hands or your face, and the sound is often unclear. So speak a little slower than usual, say names and numbers in small parts, and repeat important details to check them. A call has three parts: the opening, the reason, and the close.

Starting a call

Hi, this is Priya from Sunrise Travels.

Say it: hai, this iz PREE-ya from SUN-ryz TRAV-elz

नमस्ते, मैं सनराइज़ ट्रैवल्स से प्रिया बोल रही हूँ।

On the phone, English says "This is Priya", not "I am Priya". When you answer your own phone, "Priya speaking" is also fine.

Could I speak to Mr Rao, please?

Say it: kud ai SPEEK to MIS-ter RAO, pleez?

क्या मेरी मिस्टर राव से बात हो सकती है?

May I ask who's calling?

Say it: may ai AASK hooz KAWL-ing?

क्या मैं जान सकता हूँ कि कौन बोल रहा है?

In India, "May I know who's calling?" is very common and fine. "Who is speaking?" or "Who are you?" alone can sound sharp (रूखा).

Could you hold on a moment, please?

Say it: kud yoo HOHLD on a MOH-ment, pleez?

क्या आप एक मिनट लाइन पर रुकेंगे?

Hold on, or hold the line = wait on the phone without cutting.

Problems on the line

Sorry, you're breaking up. Could you say that again?

Say it: SOR-ee, yor BRAY-king UP. kud yoo SAY that a-GEN?

माफ़ कीजिए, आपकी आवाज़ कट रही है। क्या आप फिर से बोलेंगे?

Let me repeat the number: nine eight seven six five, four three two one zero.

Say it: let mee ri-PEET the NUM-ber: NYN AYT SEV-en SIKS FYV, FOR THREE TOO WUN ZEER-oh

मैं नंबर दोहरा देता हूँ: नौ आठ सात छह पाँच, चार तीन दो एक शून्य।

Say numbers in small groups with a pause. "Double eight" is common in India and the UK; Americans usually say "eight eight".

Situation	Useful phrase
The person is not there	I'm afraid she's not at her desk right now.
Offer to take a message	Can I take a message?
Leave a message	Could you ask him to call me back?
Spell a name	It's R-A-O: R for Ravi, A for Apple, O for Orange.
Check what you heard	Just to confirm, you said Tuesday at four?
End politely	Thanks for calling. Have a good day.

Could you please tell her that Arjun called? I'll try again after lunch.

Say it: kud yoo pleez TEL her that AR-jun KAWLD? ail TRY a-GEN AAF-ter LUNCH

क्या आप उन्हें बता देंगे कि अर्जुन का फ़ोन आया था? मैं लंच के बाद फिर से फ़ोन करूँगा।

Customer care calls

Hi, I'm calling about my order. It hasn't arrived yet.

Say it: hai, aim KAWL-ing a-BOWT my OR-der. it HAZ-unt a-RYVD YET

नमस्ते, मैं अपने ऑर्डर के बारे में फ़ोन कर रहा हूँ। वह अभी तक नहीं आया।

Say the reason for your call in the first sentence. Keep your order or complaint number ready.

Thanks for your help. Have a nice day. Bye!

Say it: THANKS for yor HELP. hav a NYS DAY. BY!

आपकी मदद के लिए धन्यवाद। आपका दिन अच्छा हो। बाय!

WhatsApp calls and voice notes: for work, send a short text first ("Is this a good time to call?") instead of calling suddenly. Keep voice notes short, say your name at the start if they may not have your number saved, and do not send long voice notes to seniors unless they send them too.

Think of it like this: A phone call is like a cricket over: the first ball (greeting and your name) and the last ball (thanks and bye) are always the same, so practise them until they are automatic. Then you only need to think about the balls in the middle: the reason for your call.

Careful: Common mistakes: "Who is speaking?" or "Who are you?" (say "May I ask who's calling?"); "I am Priya speaking" (say "This is Priya"); "Cut the call" (abroad people say "hang up" or "end the call"); saying "Hello? Hello?" again and again (say once: "Sorry, I can't hear you clearly").

Tip: Before an important call, write three lines on paper: your opening, your reason and your closing. Say them aloud once, then call.

Phone calls: making, taking and leaving messages

Explanation

Starting a call

Problems on the line

Customer care calls

Watch the lesson

In real life: Calling a clinic to change an appointment

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