German · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Phone" in German: Telefon
das Telefon
Note: mobile: das Handy
Phone in German is das Telefon. A mobile is usually das Handy. To call someone say anrufen: Ich rufe dich an.
At a desk
Das Telefon klingelt wieder.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Telefon
Say it
te-le-FOHN
/teleˈfoːn/
te-le-FOHN. Stress on the last syllable.
"Phone" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| das Telefon | phone / telephone General word, also landline. | General word, also landline. |
| das Handy | mobile phone Everyday spoken word for cellphone. | Everyday spoken word for cellphone. |
| anrufen | to call Related verb. | Related verb. |
| Telefonnummer | phone number Common compound. | Common compound. |
How to use Telefon in real life
- 1At a desk
Das Telefon klingelt wieder.
The phone is ringing again.
Klingeln for ringing.
- 2Asking to use a landline
Darf ich kurz Ihr Telefon benutzen?
May I use your phone briefly?
Formal Ihr in offices.
- 3Lost device talk
Mein Telefon ist im Zug liegen geblieben.
My phone was left on the train.
Telefon also covers smartphones in careful speech.
Mistakes English speakers make with Telefon
Incorrect: Wo ist mein Phone?
Correct: Wo ist mein Telefon? / Wo ist mein Handy?
Use Telefon or Handy.
Incorrect: der Telefon
Correct: das Telefon
Telefon is neuter.
Good to know
Germans almost always say Handy for a mobile, even though English speakers find the word funny. Telefon still fits landlines, office phones, and careful or written language.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Missing a call at work
ChatPal
Hat das Telefon von Frau Berger geklingelt?
Did Frau Berger's phone ring?
You
Ja. Ich hab's verpasst. War das ihr Telefon oder ihres?
Yes. I missed it. Was that her phone or yours?
ChatPal
Ihres. Ruf bitte zurück.
Hers. Please call back.
You
Mache ich sofort.
I'll do it right away.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Phone" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Phone" in German
Is Telefon or Handy better?
Handy for mobiles in speech. Telefon for phones in general or landlines.
How do you say phone number?
Die Telefonnummer.
How do you say to call?
Anrufen.
What gender is Telefon?
Neuter: das Telefon.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
