Telephonic Conversation In the French Language

Right before we begin, it is important for us to understand a few things which includes Telephonic Vocabulary and Phrases in the French language. The most interesting fact is, we all have the same way of communication and identical types of lines whether it be French or English or any other language.
In french a telephone number is called ‘numéro de téléphone’ and when it is stated the numbers are said in a group of twos’. Moreover, numbers in French start with 0 and the next digit tells the region where the number belongs to. Have a look at this:

– What’s your phone number?
– My phone number is 06 38 44 67 30.

– Quel est ton numéro de téléphone?
– Mon numéro de téléphone c’est le 06 38 44 47 30.

1. Related Verbs and Nouns (French Telephonic Conversation):


 

Verbs:
  1. Appeler — to call
  2. Composer un numéro — to dial a number
  3. Décrocher — to pick up
  4. Laisser un message — to leave a message
  5. Patienter — to wait
  6. Raccrocher — to hang up
  7. Rappeler — to call back
  8. Sonner — to ring
pexels-emma-bauso-2253879
Two friends taking a walk around the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Nouns:
  1. Un annuaire — phonebook 
  2. Un numéro — telephone number
  3. Une sonnerie (de téléphone) — a ringtone
  4. Un répondeur — answering machine
  5. Un répertoire — directory
  6. Une tonalité — dial tone

3. Common French Telephonic Phrases


Below are some examples of how common and usual french telephonic conversation happens, however just like any other language French also has separate phrases and vocabularies to sound more formal. 

  1. Hello?
  2. May I speak to ___?
  3. I’d like to speak to ___.
  4. Who is calling?
  5. ___ is calling.
  6. I’m transferring your call (to him/her)
  7. Please hold.
  8. He (She) is not here right now.
  9. The line is busy.
  10. He (She) is on the phone
  11. He (She) will call you back.
  12. You’ve got the wrong number.
  1. Allô ?
  2. Pourrais-je parler à ___ ?
  3. Je voudrais parler à ___.
  4. “C’est de la part de qui ? / Qui est à l’appareil ?”
  5. “C’est de la part de ___. / C’est ___ à l’appareil.”
  6. Je vous le (la) passe.
  7. Ne quittez pas.
  8. Il (Elle) n’est pas là en ce moment.
  9. La ligne est occupée.
  10. Il (Elle) est au téléphone
  11. Il (Elle) vous rappellera.
  12. “Vous faites erreur. / Vous avez fait un faux numéro.”

4. Formal French Telephonic Conversation

In order to sound more formal, we should be using the sentences as suggested below. This is however just the basic formal french telephonic conversation; the actual conversation can vary depending on the circumstances.

  1. [Name of office/company], hello.
  2. I would like to speak to [X].
  3. Is this [X]’s office?
  4. Who is on the phone?
  5. Who is calling/speaking, please?
  6. Wait a moment, please.
  7. Be so kind as to wait please.
  8. Please hold.
  9. I’ll put you through to him or her.
  10. The line is busy.
  11. The connection is bad.
  12. We were disconnected.
  13. Can you repeat that?
  14. Goodbye.
  15. Have a nice day, goodbye.
  1. [Name of office/company], bonjour.
  2. Je voudrais parler à [X].
  3. Est-ce le bureau de [X]?
  4. Qui est à l’appareil ?
  5. C’est de la part de qui ?
  6. Merci de vouloir patienter quelques instants.
  7. Veuillez patienter, s’il vous plaît.
  8. Ne quittez pas la ligne.
  9. Je vous le/la passe.
  10. La ligne est occupée.
  11. La connexion est de mauvaise qualité.
  12. Nous avons été coupés.
  13. Pouvez-vous répéter cela?
  14. Au revoir.
  15. Bonne journée, au revoir.