On the Phone
One must use the formal way of addressing when conducting business over the phone. To start, you'll need to know that when Italians pick up the phone, they say Pronto? (pronounced “prohn-toh”).
May I speak to … ?
Posso parlare con … ?
I would like to speak to …
Vorrei parlare con …
Who is calling?
Chi parla?
Please hold.
Attenda la linea, per favore.
I'll put you through now.
Glielo passo subito.
I'm sorry, she's/he's not here. Would you like to leave a message?
Mi dispiace, ma non c'è. Vorrebbe lasciare un messaggio?
Terms for Phone Usage
answering machine |
la segreteria telefonica lah seh-greh-teh-REE-ah teh-leh-FOH-nee-kah |
phonebook |
l'elenco telefonico leh-LEHN-koh teh-lef-FOH-nee-koh |
phone number |
il numero di telefono eel NOO-meh-roh dee teh-LEH-foh-noh |
to call |
chiamare, telefonare a kyah-MAH-ray, teh-leh-foh-NAH-ray ah |
to call back |
richiamare ree-kyah-MAH-ray |
to dial the number |
fare il numero fah-ray eel NOO-meh-roh |
to hang up |
riattaccare ree-aht-tahk-KAH-ray |
to leave a message |
lasciare un messaggio lah-SHAH-ray oon mehs-SAH-joh |
to ring |
suonare swoh-NAH-ray |
ESSENTIAL
When making a phone call in Italy, try to be as polite as possible, especially if you don't know the person who is answering the phone. You should use the terms buon giorno, per favore, and grazie when necessary.
