«The Школа». 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 … …

• 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./Ms/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 it 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?

• 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?