I can make a phone call in French: check that I've reached the right number, say who I am, ask for someone, leave a message, reschedule or cancel a meeting; I can also suggest switching to tu and call the emergency services.
On the phone: how to begin and how to end
On the phone: how to begin and how to end
On the phone you can't see the other person, so the call goes step by step, with a set phrase for each step. They're all in the table.
Starting. People answer with Allô ? The caller checks the number: Je suis bien chez Madame Moreau ? — and says who's calling: Bonjour, c'est Camille à l'appareil. English “This is Camille” is c'est, never je suis.
Asking for someone: Est-ce que je peux parler à Julie ? You'll hear Ne quittez pas (“hold on”) or Je vous la passe. That second one has two short pronouns in a row: learn it whole; how it works comes at the next level.
The person isn't there: Elle n'est pas là. Vous voulez laisser un message ? If le répondeur answers, leave a message after the tone.
Wrong number: Excusez-moi, je me suis trompé de numéro. The verb is reflexive and takes de.
When plans change: reporter — to move to another time, annuler — to cancel, prévenir — to let someone know in advance. A polite way to start a call: Je ne vous dérange pas ?
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Allô, je suis Camille” — on the phone it's c'est … à l'appareil.
• NOT “J'ai trompé le numéro” — the verb is reflexive: je me suis trompé.
• NOT “Je veux parler à Madame Moreau” — politely: je voudrais parler à …
• NOT “Ne partez pas !” on the phone — the set phrase is Ne quittez pas.
A phone call step by step
Ready-made lines: yours on the left, the ones you'll hear on the phone on the right.
| Step | What you say | What they say to you |
|---|---|---|
| Check the number | Je suis bien chez Monsieur Martin ? | Oui, c'est bien ici |
| Say who you are | C'est Théo à l'appareil | Bonjour Théo |
| Ask for someone | Je voudrais parler à Louis | Ne quittez pas |
| Get put through | Est-ce que je peux parler à Louis ? | Oui, je vous le passe |
| Leave a message | Je peux laisser un message ? | Bien sûr |
| Say goodbye | Merci, au revoir | Au revoir |
Lesson notes
On the phone: how to begin and how to end
On the phone you can't see the other person, so the call goes step by step, with a set phrase for each step. They're all in the table.
Starting. People answer with Allô ? The caller checks the number: Je suis bien chez Madame Moreau ? — and says who's calling: Bonjour, c'est Camille à l'appareil. English “This is Camille” is c'est, never je suis.
Asking for someone: Est-ce que je peux parler à Julie ? You'll hear Ne quittez pas (“hold on”) or Je vous la passe. That second one has two short pronouns in a row: learn it whole; how it works comes at the next level.
The person isn't there: Elle n'est pas là. Vous voulez laisser un message ? If le répondeur answers, leave a message after the tone.
Wrong number: Excusez-moi, je me suis trompé de numéro. The verb is reflexive and takes de.
When plans change: reporter — to move to another time, annuler — to cancel, prévenir — to let someone know in advance. A polite way to start a call: Je ne vous dérange pas ?
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Allô, je suis Camille” — on the phone it's c'est … à l'appareil.
• NOT “J'ai trompé le numéro” — the verb is reflexive: je me suis trompé.
• NOT “Je veux parler à Madame Moreau” — politely: je voudrais parler à …
• NOT “Ne partez pas !” on the phone — the set phrase is Ne quittez pas.
“On se tutoie ?” and emergency numbers
English has one “you”; French has two. Vous: with an adult you don't know, in an office, at work, with a customer. Tu: in the family, with friends, with children, often between students. Vous until someone suggests switching to tu: with colleagues and neighbors it varies, and the older person or the host decides.
The older person or the host suggests the switch: On se tutoie ? or On peut se tutoyer ? You agree and give your first name: Oui, bien sûr ! Je m'appelle Manon.
Two verbs: tutoyer — to say tu to someone, vouvoyer — to say vous. Both are regular -er verbs, but before a silent ending y changes to i: je tutoie, je vouvoie.
Emergency numbers: 15 — le SAMU (medical emergencies), 17 — la police, 18 — les pompiers (firefighters), 112 — one number for all of Europe. The first thing you say: J'ai besoin d'aide — then the address.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Madame Moreau, tu peux m'aider ?” — with a last name, only vous.
• NOT “Je tutoie vous” — the short pronoun goes before the verb: je vous tutoie.
• NOT suggesting “On se tutoie ?” first, to your boss — the offer comes from the older person.