Having a phone conversation in a language that is not your own can be stressful, whether the call is personal or professional. The good news: with a little preparation, the right vocabulary and some practice, you can speak French on the phone without stress. Here is how to get ready.
In short
- Prepare in advance what you want to say and the useful vocabulary.
- Learn a few standard phone phrases (« Qui est à l’appareil ? », « C’est de la part de qui ? »).
- Practise speaking out loud, for example in video lessons.
- Don’t just endure the call: ask the person to repeat or slow down if needed.
- Without the image, everything goes through the voice: articulate and listen closely.
Prepare your conversation and vocabulary
A phone conversation should not be improvised. The lack of images can be unsettling and make it harder to understand the other person. The secret is to prepare well: master your topic, think in advance about what you want to say and the questions you might be asked. Note the key vocabulary and words likely to come up. By covering the different possibilities, you will approach the call far more calmly.
Useful phone phrases in French
Here are the most useful phrases on the phone in French. They stay in French, since they are what you actually say.
| Phrase | When to use it |
|---|---|
| « Bonjour, je voudrais parler à… » | To ask to reach someone |
| « C’est de la part de qui ? » | To ask who is calling |
| « C’est de la part de… » | To say who is calling |
| « Qui est à l’appareil ? » | To ask who you are speaking to |
| « Quand puis-je vous rappeler ? » | To agree on a time to call back |
| « Quand sera-t-il de retour ? » | To find out when the person will be available |
| « Pouvez-vous lui laisser un message ? » | To leave a message |
| « Pouvez-vous me donner son numéro de portable ? » | To ask for a number |
| « Désolé d’avoir raté votre appel, j’étais déjà en ligne » | To apologise for a missed call |
| « Vous serait-il possible de répéter, s’il vous plaît ? » | To ask someone to repeat |
| « Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? » | To ask someone to slow down |
Practise speaking on the phone
To feel comfortable on the phone in French, you need to get used to talking on the phone. With a native French teacher, practise in online lessons over Zoom, audio or video: it is a great way to practise in real conditions. Your teacher guides you kindly with concrete tips, without throwing you in at the deep end straight away. You can start with a free trial lesson with an assessment.
Don’t let the call control you
If you get lost during the call, do not hesitate to say so, or you risk simply enduring the conversation and giving up. If you don’t understand, ask the person to repeat: « Vous serait-il possible de répéter, s’il vous plaît ? ». And feel free to ask them to slow down if needed.
Try this: before an important call, jot down in two or three points what you want to say and keep the standard phrases in front of you. You will feel more confident from the very first seconds.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a call in French?
Note in advance what you want to say, the possible questions and the key vocabulary. Keep a few standard phrases in front of you during the call.
Which phrases should I know on the phone?
« Qui est à l’appareil ? », « C’est de la part de qui ? », « Quand puis-je vous rappeler ? » and « Vous serait-il possible de répéter, s’il vous plaît ? » are very useful.
What if I don’t understand on the phone?
Just say so and ask the person to repeat or speak more slowly: « Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? ».
How can I improve speaking on the phone?
Practise regularly, for example in video lessons with a native teacher, in conditions close to real life.
Why is the phone harder than a face-to-face conversation?
Without the image or gestures, everything relies on the voice. Preparation and practice make up for the lack of visual cues.
Live French · one-on-one Zoom lessons with native teachers since 2007 · 4.9/5 on Google
Perfectionnez votre français – cours d’essai gratuit! Inscrivez-vous ici
