Have you ever needed to make a phone call in Spanish and felt unsure about what to say? Whether you're calling a friend, making a business call, or answering an unexpected ring, knowing the right vocabulary and expressions is essential. In this lesson, we'll cover everything you need to confidently handle phone conversations in Spanish: from essential verbs and key vocabulary to common phrases and different ways to answer the phone across Spanish-speaking countries.
This is the fundamental verb for making a phone call. Here's how to use it in different contexts.
When you are about to call someone:
Un momento, voy a llamar por teléfono.
One moment, I'm going to call [them].
Caption 6, Ariana - Cita médica
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When you want to say that you called someone:
Cuando llamé por teléfono, era para hablar con Lucio.
When I called on the phone, it was to talk to Lucio.
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When you want to indicate that someone called someone:
La primera vez que tu papá me llamó, no fue a la casa.
The first time your dad called me, it was not to the house.
Caption 42, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 5
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Of course, when you call someone, you expect an answer. Let's see this verb in action.
Disculpa, estaba en una reunión y no pude responder tu llamada.
Sorry, I was in a meeting and I couldn't answer your call.
You can also use the verb contestar (to answer) in this situation:
Que pena, discúlpame.
I'm sorry, excuse me.
Tengo que contestar esta llamada.
I have to answer this call.
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This is the verb you use when you need to end a phone call or get off the phone.
When you want to tell someone that you need to go:
Oye, tengo que colgar porque vamos a comer.
Listen, I have to hang up because we're going to eat.
Captions 56-57, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 8
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When you want to say that someone hung up on you or someone else:
Una mina llamó por teléfono a tu celular.
A girl called your cell phone.
Elena atendió, ella preguntó por vos y entonces Elena le dijo,
Elena answered, she asked for you and then Elena said to her,
"¿Quién habla?"
"Who is it?"
Y la mina colgó.
And the girl hung up.
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From the example above, you can also see that the verb atender (to respond) is another verb you can use instead of responder (to answer).
Of course, you talk over the phone so if you want to express that action, you can say it like our friend Silvia from El Aula Azul:
Estoy hablando por teléfono.
I'm talking on the telephone.
Yo hablo por teléfono.
I talk on the telephone.
Captions 49-50, El Aula Azul - Actividades diarias: En casa con Silvia
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A phone call is about listening to someone else so this is a very important verb especially when you want to make sure the other person is able to listen to you.
Me puedes escuchar?
Can you hear me?
You can also use the verb oir (to hear) in this context:
¿Qué tal?
How are you?
Muy bien.
Very well.
Y ahora que te oigo, de maravilla.
And now that I hear you, wonderful.
Captions 33-35, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa - Capítulo 3 - Part 13
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Beyond verbs, there are important nouns and terms you need to know when making or receiving calls in Spanish.
• La llamada - the call
This is the most basic noun you'll use constantly.
Una llamada telefónica también puede ser apropiada.
A phone call could also be appropriate.
Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Silvia Pésame y condolencias - Part 2
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• El teléfono - the telephone
The general term for any phone.
• El celular (Latin America) / El móvil (Spain) - the cell phone / mobile phone
When talking about a smartphone, use celular throughout Latin America and móvil in Spain.
¿Nos podrías hacer una foto con mi móvil?
Could you take a picture of us with my cellphone?
Caption 9, Raquel Expresiones para un festival de música.
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yo acabo de recibir una llamada de ese celular.
I just received a call from that cell phone.
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• El mensaje - the message
Essential for when you need to leave or receive information.
• El buzón de voz / El contestador - the voicemail / answering machine
Where messages are left when you can't answer.
• El número (de teléfono) - the (phone) number
Cleer, ¿me podría dar su número de teléfono?
Cleer, could you give me your phone number?
Caption 36, Cleer y Lida Conversación telefónica - Part 2
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• La señal - the signal
Important when discussing connection quality.
• La línea - the line
As in "the line is busy."
• Número equivocado - wrong number
• Línea ocupada - busy line
• Llamada perdida - missed call
• Conferencia telefónica - conference call
• Llamada de larga distancia - long-distance call
One of the most common questions learners have is: how do you actually answer the phone in Spanish? In English, we simply say "hello," but in Spanish, there are several options that vary by country.
Literally, bueno means "fine" or "well." However, in this context, you can take bueno as a simple "hello." This way of answering the phone is very common in Mexico.
This is the Spanish equivalent of "hello" and works universally across all Spanish-speaking countries.
Literally, this means "yes." It's a very normal way of answering the phone in Spanish, particularly in some Latin American countries.
The translation of this is "tell me" or "speak." This is a very common way of answering the phone in Spain.
This way of answering the phone is very popular in Colombia, Peru, and other South American countries. It works as a simple "hello."
Some people prefer to answer the phone according to the time of day, so you can say buenos días (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon), or buenas noches (good evening/night).
Now let's look at common phrases you'll hear and use during phone conversations in Spanish.
• ¿Está [nombre]? - Is [name] there?
• ¿Puedo hablar con [nombre]? - May/Can I speak with [name]?
• ¿Se encuentra [nombre]? - Is [name] available?
¿Puedo hablar con Emilia, por favor?
May I speak with Emilia, please?
Caption 42, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 6: El día de la Primitiva - Part 7
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• ¿De parte de quién? - Who's calling? / Who may I say is calling?
• Un momento, por favor - One moment, please
• Te lo/la paso / Se lo/la paso - I'll put him/her on
• Ahora se pone - He/she will be right with you
• No se encuentra / No está - He/she is not here
• Está ocupado/a - He/she is busy
¿De parte de quién?
May I ask whose calling?
Caption 46, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 8 - Part 4
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Ah, un momento por favor.
Oh, one moment please.
Caption 11, Cita médica La cita médica de Cleer - Part 1
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• No te escucho bien - I can't hear you well
• Se está cortando - The call is breaking up / You're cutting out
• No hay señal - There's no signal
• Habla más fuerte, por favor - Speak louder, please
• No cuelgues - Don't hang up
• Espera un momento - Wait a moment
• Creo que marcaste el número equivocado - I think you dialed the wrong number
• ¿Con quién quiere hablar? - Who do you want to speak with?
• Aquí no vive esa persona - That person doesn't live here
• ¿Le puedo dejar un mensaje? - Can I leave him/her a message?
• ¿Quiere dejar un recado? - Would you like to leave a message?
• Por favor, dígale que llamé - Please tell him/her that I called
• ¿Me puede devolver la llamada? - Can he/she call me back
• Tengo que colgar - I have to hang up
• Te llamo después / Te llamo luego - I'll call you later
• Hablamos pronto - We'll talk soon
• Cuídate - Take care
• Nos hablamos - We'll talk (to each other)
Now that you know all the essential vocabulary, verbs, and phrases for phone calls in Spanish, you're ready to handle any phone conversation with confidence. Remember that answering customs vary by country, so don't be surprised if you hear different greetings depending on where you're calling. The key is to practice these expressions and pay attention to how native speakers use them in real conversations.
Whether you're making a business call, chatting with a friend, or dealing with a wrong number, you now have all the tools you need to navigate phone conversations successfully in Spanish.
Got questions about phone vocabulary or want to share how phone customs work in your Spanish-speaking country? We'd love to hear from you—reach out with your experiences and any questions you might have!
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