How to Make a Phone Call in Spanish

We cannot deny that making a phone call in Spanish when you are not quite fluent in the language is hard. It is perhaps, one of the hardest things for Spanish language learners.

When you are speaking by phone, you are not able to use all your senses that help you guess what the person on the other side of the line is saying. For example, you cannot see the other person´s facial expressions that would likely tell a lot about how they are feeling.

In addition, you are limited to only using your voice instead of also using your hands to make signs that would help you be understood.

Because I know how hard is to make a phone call in a language different from your mother language, I made this post.

Here you will find the vocabulary you need to talk on the phone like a Spaniard. Additionally, there are plenty of examples with audios to practice your listening skills.

CONTENTS

How to Start a Phone call in Spanish

In my opinion, starting a phone call in a foreign language is easier than answering one. Before making the phone call, you have the chance to practice and prepare yourself for it. In this way, you have an idea of what to say.

Find below the most common phrases Spaniards use when starting a phone conversation.

INFORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Hola, soy... ¿Está...?	Hello, I am... Is...there?
Hola, soy... ¿Se puede poner...?	Hello, I am... ¿Can...get to the phone?

FORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Buenos días, ¿podría hablar con...?	Good morning, could I speak to...?
Buenas tardes, ¿se encuentra...?	Good afternoon, is...there?
Hola, ¿puedo hablar con...?	Hello, can I speak to...?
Hola, quisiera hablar con…	Hello, I would like to speak to...
Buenas noches, me gustaría hablar con...	Good evening, I would like to speak to...

How Spaniards Answer a Phone Call

From my point of view, answering a phone call in a second language is usually more challenging. You may not be expecting the call and thus, you are not prepared for it.

Start getting ready to answer a phone call in Spanish by using the following vocabulary.

INFORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
¿Sí?	Hello or yes?

FORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Buenos días, habla...	Good morning, this is...
Buenos días, le atiende...	Good morning, this is...
¿Dígame?	Hello
¿Diga?	Hello
Hola, me llamo... ¿En qué puedo/podría ayudarle?	Hello, my name is... How can/could I help you?

How to End a Phone Conversation in Spanish

Ending a conversation by phone in Spanish is similar to ending a conversation in person.

Find below the most common ways to end a phone conversation in Spanish.

INFORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Adiós	Goodbye
Chao	Bye
Cuídate	Take care
Hasta luego	See you later or talk to you later
Hasta pronto	See you soon or talk to you soon
Hasta la próxima	See you next time or until next time
Ya hablamos Ya hablaremos	Talk to you later Speak to you later
Nos vemos	See you
Que tengas un buen día	Have a good day
Que (te) vaya bien	I hope everything goes well or I hope it goes well

FORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Adiós	Goodbye
Cuídese	Take care
Gracias, muy amable	Thanks, you have been kind/helpful
Gracias por llamar	Thanks for calling
Gracias por su llamada	Thanks for your call
Ha sido un placer hablar con usted	It has been a pleasure to talk/talking to you
¡Que le vaya bien!	I hope everything goes well I hope it goes well
¡Que tenga un buen día!	I hope you have a good day

When There is Confusion Over the Phone

There is nothing worse than having problems when you are on the phone, such as loosing service. This can lead to a lot of confusion and sometimes, to very awkward conversations.

To escape from an awkward moment, use the sentences below.

INFORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
No te oigo	I cannot hear you
¿Puedes repetirlo?	Can you repeat it?
¿Puedes explicármelo de nuevo/otra vez?	Could you explain it to me again?
¿Me oyes?	Can you hear me?
¿Sigues ahí?	Are you still there?
No te oigo muy bien	I cannot hear you very well
¿Qué dices?	What are you saying?
¿Cómo?	What?
Parece que no hay cobertura	It seems there is no service/coverage

FORMAL

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Perdone, no le escucho	Sorry, I cannot hear you
¿Perdone?	Pardon?
¿Disculpe?	Pardon?
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?	Can you repeat it, please?
¿Podría repetirlo, por favor?	Could you repeat it, please?
¿Podría explicármelo de nuevo/otra vez, por favor?	Could you explain it to me again, please?
¿Sigue ahí?	Are you still there?
No le oigo muy bien	I cannot hear you very well
¿Qué decía? ¿Qué dijo?	What were you saying? What did you say?
Parece que no hay cobertura	It seems there is no service/coverage

Spanish Vocabulary Related to Phone Calls

Are you having a conversation related to phone calls?

Keep reading to find the vocabulary of nouns and verbs you need for that.

NOUNS

SPANISH	ENGLISH
El contestador automático	Voicemail Answering machine
La guía telefónica	Phone book
La llamada	Call
La línea telefónica	Phone line
El mensaje de voz	Voicemail
El mensaje (de texto)	Text message
El número de teléfono	Phone number
El teléfono	Phone
El (teléfono) fijo	Landline
El (teléfono) móvil	Cell phone

VERBS

SPANISH	ENGLISH
Enviar/mandar un mensaje de texto Mensajear	To text
Colgar	To hang up
Llamar	To call
Marcar	To dial
Mantenerse a la espera	To hold on
Sonar	To ring

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this post helps you better understand the proper way making a phone call in Spanish.

If you want, I can help you practice with this vocabulary by using it while having a conversation during our online Spanish conversation classes.

Finally, I would love to hear from you.

Do you feel comfortable talking by phone in Spanish?
How did your first phone conversation in Spanish go?
Have you ever had any awkward moments on the phone when speaking in Spanish?

Share your answers in the comment section below!

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