B1 Vocabulary — Phone talk
Words and phrases for talking about phones, making calls and phone problems.
B1 Intermediate
Everyday English
Phone calls
1. Types of phones
- landline = a phone that stays in one place and is connected by a cable. You can call me on the landline in the evening.
- mobile (phone) / cell phone = a phone you can carry with you. I always keep my mobile in my bag.
- smartphone = a mobile phone that can go online and use apps. I checked the timetable on my smartphone.
2. Inside & power
- SIM card = the small card with your number and network information. Your contacts are saved on the SIM card.
- charger = cable / device for charging the battery. I can’t charge my phone – I forgot my charger.
3. Sounds & connection
- ringtone = the sound your phone makes when someone calls. I changed my ringtone yesterday.
- signal = how strong your mobile connection is. I don’t have any signal in the basement.
- busy line = the person is already on another call. I tried to call, but the line was busy.
- on hold = waiting on the phone to speak to someone. The company put me on hold for five minutes.
4. Voicemail & missed calls
- voicemail = a system that records messages when you don’t answer. He didn’t pick up, so I left a voicemail.
- missed call = a call you didn’t answer. I saw a missed call from my boss.
5. Making & answering calls
- dial a number = press the numbers to start a call. I dialled his number and waited.
- ring / call (someone) = phone a person. I’ll ring you when I finish work.
- pick up = answer the phone. Nobody picked up, so I tried again later.
- hang up = finish the call. She said goodbye and hung up.
- hold the line / hold on = wait on the call for a short time. Hold the line, I’ll transfer you to the manager.
- ring back / call back = phone someone again later. I’m busy now, but I’ll call you back after lunch.
- put (someone) through = connect a caller to another person. The receptionist put me through to the director.
- be / get cut off = the call stops because of a technical problem. We got cut off, so I had to call again.
6. Typical phone sentences
- Can I speak to … ? Can I speak to Mr Brown, please?
- Who’s calling, please? Hello, who’s calling, please?
- I’ll call you back. I’m on the bus now, I’ll call you back later.
- The line is busy. The line is busy, so I’ll try again in a minute.
🔹 Remember: we say ring someone or call someone (no “to”), but phone call as a noun.
Exercises:
Phone talk & calls
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
At home we still have a
with a cable in the wall.
Correct:
A landline is a phone that is connected by a cable in a house or office.
2
In British English, people usually say
for a phone you carry with you.
Correct:
In British English, a mobile phone is a phone you can carry with you.
3
In American English, people usually say
instead of “mobile phone”.
Correct:
In American English, a cell phone is the usual word for a mobile phone.
4
My
can take photos, go online and run lots of apps.
Correct:
A smartphone is a phone that works like a small computer with apps and internet.
5
When I changed my phone company, I put a new
into my phone.
Correct:
A SIM card is a small chip that stores your phone number and network data.
6
My battery is almost empty – I need my phone
.
Correct:
A charger is the cable and plug you use to give your phone battery power.
7
I changed my
so my phone now rings with a new song.
Correct:
A ringtone is the sound your phone makes when someone calls you.
8
In the mountains I had no
so I couldn’t call or send messages.
Correct:
Your phone needs a good signal to connect to the network.
9
I tried to call her, but I only heard a continuous tone – her
.
Correct:
A busy line means the person is already on another call.
10
The operator put me
and I listened to music while I waited.
Correct:
When you are on hold, you wait on the phone, usually with music playing.
11
If I don’t answer, please leave me a message on my
.
Correct:
Voicemail is a system that records spoken messages when you can’t answer.
12
I was in the shower and later I saw a
from my boss on my screen.
Correct:
A missed call is a call you didn’t answer.
13
To call the office, first you have to
on the keypad.
Correct:
To dial a number is to press the digits of a phone number.
14
Don’t worry, I’ll
this evening and tell you the news.
Correct:
To ring someone means to phone them.
15
If it’s really urgent, you should
your doctor immediately.
Correct:
To call someone is to phone them and speak to them.
16
The phone is ringing in the kitchen – can you
for me, please?
Correct:
To pick up (the phone) means to answer a call.
17
When I finish the conversation, I say goodbye and then I
.
Correct:
To hang up is to end a phone call.
18
“Please
while I transfer you to the manager,” said the receptionist.
Correct:
Hold the line means “please wait on the phone”.
19
“
a second, I’m just checking your booking,” said the hotel receptionist.
Correct:
Hold on is another way to say “wait a moment”.
20
I can’t talk now – I’ll
when the meeting is over.
Correct:
To ring back means to call someone again later.
21
She wasn’t at her desk, but she promised to
this afternoon.
Correct:
To call back is to return someone’s call later.
22
“Can you
to the accounts department, please?” he asked the receptionist.
Correct:
To put someone through is to connect their call to another person or department.
23
We were talking and suddenly we seemed to
in the middle of the call.
Correct:
To be cut off means the call ends suddenly because of a technical problem.
24
On this train we often
when the signal disappears in a tunnel.
Correct:
To get cut off means your call suddenly stops because the connection is lost.
Phone talk & calls
Match the sentences with the phone words
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