French phone vocabulary and expressions to help you make, receive, and manage calls confidently in French.
Navigating phone conversations in French can be tricky, especially with different cultural norms and phrasing. This guide covers essential vocabulary and common expressions for all parts of a call—from dialing and answering to leaving messages and ending the conversation. Whether you’re calling a friend, making a reservation, or handling a business call, these phrases will help you communicate clearly and confidently.
Making a Call
When you want to initiate a phone call in French, there are several ways to politely get the conversation started. These phrases also include how to ask for someone and introduce yourself.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Example (FR) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allô ? | Hello? (on the phone) | Allô ? C’est Marie. | Hello? This is Marie. |
| Je voudrais parler à… | I would like to speak to… | Je voudrais parler à Paul, s’il vous plaît. | I would like to speak to Paul, please. |
| Puis-je parler à… ? | May I speak to…? | Puis-je parler à Mme Dupont ? | May I speak to Mrs. Dupont? |
| C’est [Name] à l’appareil. | This is [Name] speaking. | C’est Sophie à l’appareil. | This is Sophie speaking. |
| Qui est à l’appareil ? | Who’s speaking? | Bonjour, qui est à l’appareil ? | Hello, who’s speaking? |
Answering the Phone
Answering the phone politely is important in French-speaking cultures. Here are some common ways to pick up the call and ask who’s calling.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Example (FR) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allô ? | Hello? (on the phone) | Allô ? | Hello? |
| Bonjour, [Name] à l’appareil. | Hello, [Name] speaking. | Bonjour, Pierre à l’appareil. | Hello, Pierre speaking. |
| Bonjour, [Company/Department], [Name] à l’appareil. | Hello, [Company/Department], [Name] speaking. | Bonjour, Hôtel Lumière, Claire à l’appareil. | Hello, Hotel Lumière, Claire speaking. |
| Qui est à l’appareil ? | Who’s speaking? | Bonjour, qui est à l’appareil ? | Hello, who’s speaking? |
| Un instant, je vous passe [Name]. | One moment, I’ll put you through to [Name]. | Un instant, je vous passe le directeur. | One moment, I’ll put you through to the manager. |
Leaving a Message
If the person you’re trying to reach is unavailable, you’ll need to leave a message. These phrases will help you do so politely and clearly.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Example (FR) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Name] est absent(e). Puis-je prendre un message ? | [Name] is unavailable. May I take a message? | Mme Dupont est absente. Puis-je prendre un message ? | Mrs. Dupont is unavailable. May I take a message? |
| Puis-je laisser un message ? | May I leave a message? | Puis-je laisser un message pour Julien ? | May I leave a message for Julien? |
| Pouvez-vous demander à [Name] de me rappeler ? | Can you ask [Name] to call me back? | Pouvez-vous demander à Sophie de me rappeler ? | Can you ask Sophie to call me back? |
| Merci de rappeler au [number]. | Please call back at [number]. | Merci de rappeler au 06 12 34 56 78. | Please call back at 06 12 34 56 78. |
| Mon numéro est le [number]. | My number is [number]. | Mon numéro est le 01 23 45 67 89. | My number is 01 23 45 67 89. |
Ending the Call
Knowing how to close a phone conversation politely is just as important as starting it. These phrases will help you wrap up naturally.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Example (FR) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merci pour votre appel. | Thank you for your call. | Merci pour votre appel, bonne journée. | Thank you for your call, have a good day. |
| Au revoir. | Goodbye. | Au revoir, à bientôt. | Goodbye, see you soon. |
| Je vous remercie. | I thank you. | Je vous remercie pour votre aide. | Thank you for your help. |
| À bientôt. | See you soon. | À bientôt, prenez soin de vous. | See you soon, take care. |
| Bonne journée / Bonne soirée. | Have a good day / evening. | Bonne soirée et bonne nuit. | Have a good evening and good night. |
How do you say 'Have a good evening and good night.' in French?
Bonne soirée et bonne nuit.
'Bonne soirée et bonne nuit.' is a common polite closing in the evening, wishing the other person a good evening and good night.
___ pour votre appel.
Which French phrase means 'Thank you for your call.'?
Merci
'Merci pour votre appel.' is a polite way to thank someone for calling before ending the conversation.
Common Problems
Sometimes things go wrong during a call. These phrases will help you explain issues like bad connections or busy lines.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Example (FR) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allô ? Je vous entends mal. | Hello? I can’t hear you well. | Allô ? Je vous entends mal, pouvez-vous répéter ? | Hello? I can’t hear you well, can you repeat? |
| La ligne est mauvaise. | The line is bad. | La ligne est mauvaise, je rappellerai plus tard. | The line is bad, I’ll call back later. |
| Le numéro que vous avez composé est occupé. | The number you dialed is busy. | Le numéro que vous avez composé est occupé, veuillez patienter. | The number you dialed is busy, please wait. |
| Je rappellerai plus tard. | I’ll call back later. | Je rappellerai plus tard, merci. | I’ll call back later, thank you. |
| Le téléphone ne répond pas. | The phone isn’t answering. | Le téléphone ne répond pas, je laisserai un message. | The phone isn’t answering, I’ll leave a message. |
Mastering these phone phrases will boost your confidence in handling conversations in French, whether they’re casual chats or professional calls.
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- Example (FR): Allô ? C’est Marie.
- Example (EN): Hello? This is Marie.
- English Translation: Hello? (on the phone)
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
