BUSINESS ENGLISH VOCABULARY
Telephone
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?