German · Real conversations

Calls and messages: useful German phrases

Handle a short call and confirm a message.

Start with the essentials

Start with the essential words and expressions below. Next, learn the five specific phrases in the reference table. Finally, read both sides of the exchange and try the linked rehearsal before revealing its sample replies. This collection connects to the broader vocabulary topic.

Phone
das Telefon
Phone
to call (phone)
anrufen
to call (phone)
to hear
hören
to hear
to listen
zuhören
to listen

Make the conversation more specific

Useful German expressions for calls and messages
What you want to say	German
Phone	das Telefon Phone
to call (phone)	anrufen to call (phone)
to hear	hören to hear
to listen	zuhören to listen
Can you hear me?	Kannst du mich hören? Show English translation Can you hear me?
The connection is breaking up.	Die Verbindung ist schlecht. Show English translation The connection is breaking up.
Could you leave a message?	Könntest du eine Nachricht hinterlassen? Show English translation Could you leave a message?
I'll call you back.	Ich rufe dich zurück. Show English translation I'll call you back.
Did you get my message?	Hast du meine Nachricht bekommen? Show English translation Did you get my message?

Read the other side of the exchange

Partner
Hallo, bist du da?
Hello, are you there?
You
Kannst du mich hören?
Can you hear me?
Partner
Ich höre dich, aber der Ton ist nicht klar.
I can hear you, but the sound isn't clear.
You
Die Verbindung ist schlecht.
The connection is breaking up.

Calls and messages in other languages

A note on speaking German

Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.

The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.