TELEPHONE VOCABULARY

Answering machine: a recording device a caller can leave a spoken message on if their call isn’t answered

Sentence: Leave a message on the answering machine and i’ll call you back when i can.

Busy signal: a sound that means that the phone you are calling is being used

Sentence: Mum’s always on the phone after dinner, so i’ll get a busy signal if i call now.

Caller: person who is making a phone call.

Sentence: I spoke to hundreds of callers every day while i was a receptionist.

Conference call: a telephone call in which three or more people can hear and speak with one another

Sentence: I’m having a conference call with some old friends tonight.

Cordless phone: a portable battery-powered telephone with a short-range radio link to a fixed base unit.

Sentence: Have you seen the cordless phone? I had it in the bathroom but it isn’t there now.

Dial tone: the sound a landline phone makes when you pick it up

Sentence: I think the line’s dead. There’s no dial tone when you pick up the phone.

Hang up: to end a telephone call

Sentence: Someone called, but as soon as they heard my voice they hung up.

Missed call: a call that wasn’t answered

Sentence: I check my missed calls every night in case i’ve missed an important one.

Robocall: a recorded message, usually to sell something or get votes in an election

Sentence: Most people hate getting robocalls, don’t they?an automatic call that plays

Voicemail: a system that records and stores spoken messages left by people whose phone calls aren’t answered

Sentence: If i can’t answer your call, leave a message on voicemail if you like.

Call back: to telephone somebody after they have telephoned you

Sentence: He didn’t return my call, so i knew something was wrong.