Mobile phone vocabulary: learn to have a phone conversation in Spanish

Let me ask you some questions. What do you never forget when you go out? What do you always have in your hands, your pocket or in your bag? What device do you use to know what the time is, what the weather will look like and many other things? What do you look at more times a day? Where are you reading this post in? If the answer to these questions or even to all of them is your phone, you need to read this post.

There are many and very common words and sentences related to your mobile. Words and sentences that we use many times a day. Here you will find some of the most useful ones.

At the end of this post, you will find two samples of brief phone conversations in Spanish, one formal and one informal. From SpanishSkype.org, we encourage you to practice the different variations that can happen during a phone call. Speaking by phone is more difficult than speaking in person and practicing is the best way to improve. Remember, “la práctica hace al maestro”.

To pick up the phone – Contestar al teléfono or Coger el teléfono (España)/Agarrar el teléfono (América Latina)
To hang up the phone - Colgar el teléfono
To make a call - Hacer una llamada
To call back - Devolver una llamada
The line is busy - Está comunicando/comunica
To have no signal - No tener cobertura
I have hardly any signal – Casi no tengo cobertura
Text a message – Mandar/enviar un mensaje
To be hooked on the pone - Estar enganchado al móvil
Missed call - Llamada perdida
Hello? (answering the phone)– Diga/Dígame/¿Sí?/Bueno… (the last one is more common in Latin America)
It’s John, can I speak to Pedro? - Soy John, ¿puedo hablar con Pedro?
Hold on, I have another call - Espera un momento, tengo otra llamada
Can you tell him to call me back? - ¿Puedes decirle que me llame?
Can I leave a message? - ¿Puedo dejar un mensaje?