If talking on the phone in Spanish makes you want to “accidentally” lose signal, you’re not alone. Phone calls add extra pressure: you can’t see the other person, everything feels faster, and suddenly your Spanish disappears right when the receptionist says the first “¿Bueno?”
The good news: professional phone calls follow very predictable scripts. Once you know the key phrases to greet, introduce yourself, ask for someone, leave a message, and end the call politely, it stops being a panic attack and starts feeling like fill-in-the-blanks.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to handle basic professional calls in Spanish: answer the phone politely, introduce yourself, explain why you’re calling, ask for clarification, and finish the conversation sounding calm, competent, and like you totally meant to do that.
Quick Primer: Formal Vs Informal On The Phone
First thing to decide: are you talking to a friend or a business contact?
- Informal “you”: tú /tu/
- Formal “you”: usted /usˈteð/
On professional calls (to companies, offices, clients, doctors, etc.), default to usted unless they clearly switch to tú.
Core pronoun + verb differences:
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Cómo estás? (tú) | ˈko.mo esˈtas | How are you? (informal) |
| Cómo está? (usted) | ˈko.mo esˈta | How are you? (formal) |
| Puedes repetir? (tú) | ˈpwe.ðes repeˈtiɾ | Can you repeat? (informal) |
| Puede repetir? (usted) | ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ | Can you repeat? (formal) |
Professional default: use usted, señor /seˈɲoɾ/, señora /seˈɲo.ɾa/, señorita /seɲoˈɾi.ta/, and polite openings like buenos días /ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as/ — good morning.
Basic Phone Vocabulary You Need First
Let’s define the key phone words so your brain has something to grab when the ringtone hits.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Teléfono | teˈle.fo.no | telephone, phone |
| Llamar | ʝaˈmaɾ | to call |
| Llamada | ʝaˈma.ða | call (noun) |
| Contestar | kontesˈtaɾ | to answer |
| Descolgar | deskolˈɣaɾ | to pick up (lift receiver) |
| Colgar | kolˈɣaɾ | to hang up |
| Línea | ˈli.ne.a | line |
| Señal | seˈɲal | signal |
| Buzón de voz | buˈson ðe ˈβoθ / ˈβos | voicemail |
| Dejar un mensaje | deˈxaɾ un menˈsa.xe | to leave a message |
Two super-useful mini phrases:
- Está cortando. /esˈta koɾˈtan.do/ — The line is cutting out.
- No se escucha bien. /no se esˈkutʃa ˈbjen/ — I can’t hear well / it’s not clear.
Now let’s build the call from the start.
How To Answer The Phone Professionally
In a professional context, “Hola?” alone is too short. You usually want greeting + company/name + formula.
Common Professional Answers
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Buenos días, empresa X, le atiende Ana. | ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as emˈpɾe.sa ˈekis le aˈtjen.de ˈa.na | Good morning, Company X, Ana speaking. |
| Buenas tardes, oficina del doctor Pérez, dígame. | ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.ðes ofiˈθi.na ðel ðokˈtoɾ ˈpe.ɾes ˈði.ɣa.me | Good afternoon, Dr. Pérez’s office, how can I help you? |
| Buenas, [Nombre], buenos días. | ˈbwe.nas ˈnom.βɾe ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as | Hello, this is [Name], good morning. |
| Hola, muy buenos días, en qué puedo ayudarle? | ˈo.la ˈmuj ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as en ke ˈpwe.ðo aʝuˈðaɾ.le | Hello, good morning, how can I help you? |
If you’re answering your personal phone but expecting a professional call, you can use:
- Buenos días, habla [Tu Nombre]. /ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla tu ˈnom.βɾe/ — Good morning, this is [Your Name] speaking.
How To Introduce Yourself And Say Why You’re Calling
When you start the call, think three steps: greet, introduce, explain purpose.
Polite Openings
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Buenos días, habla [Tu Nombre]. | ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla [tu ˈnom.βɾe] | Good morning, this is [Your Name] speaking. |
| Buenas tardes, le llama [Tu Nombre]. | ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.ðes le ˈʝa.ma [tu ˈnom.βɾe] | Good afternoon, this is [Your Name] calling. |
| Llamo de parte de [Empresa]. | ˈʝa.mo ðe ˈpaɾ.te ðe [emˈpɾe.sa] | I’m calling on behalf of [Company]. |
| Llamo porque… | ˈʝa.mo ˈpoɾ.ke | I’m calling because… |
Explaining The Reason
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Quisiera hablar con… | kiˈsj̯e.ɾa aˈβlaɾ kon | I’d like to speak with… |
| Llamo para pedir información sobre… | ˈʝa.mo ˈpa.ɾa peˈðiɾ infoɾmaˈθjon / infoɾmaˈsjon ˈso.βɾe | I’m calling to ask for information about… |
| Llamo para confirmar… | ˈʝa.mo ˈpa.ɾa koɱfiɾˈmaɾ | I’m calling to confirm… |
| Llamo para cambiar la cita. | ˈʝa.mo ˈpa.ɾa kamˈbjaɾ la ˈθi.ta / ˈsi.ta | I’m calling to change the appointment. |
Example sentence:
- Buenos días, habla Alex Johnson. Llamo para confirmar la reunión de mañana. /ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla ˈa.leks ˈdʒon.son ˈʝa.mo ˈpa.ɾa koɱfiɾˈmaɾ la reuˈnjon ðe maˈɲa.na/
Good morning, this is Alex Johnson. I’m calling to confirm tomorrow’s meeting.
Asking For Someone And Being Put On Hold
You will do this a lot: asking for the right person, asking if they’re available, surviving hold music.
Asking For A Person
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Podría hablar con el señor / la señora [Apellido]? | poˈðɾi.a aˈβlaɾ kon el seˈɲoɾ / la seˈɲo.ɾa [a.peˈʎi.βo] | Could I speak with Mr./Ms. [Last Name]? |
| Podría comunicarme con [Nombre], por favor? | poˈðɾi.a komuniˈkaɾ.me kon [ˈnom.βɾe] poɾ faˈβoɾ | Could you connect me with [Name], please? |
| Está [Nombre]? | esˈta [ˈnom.βɾe] | Is [Name] there? |
| De parte de quién? | ðe ˈpaɾ.te ðe ˈkj̯en | Who’s calling? / From whom? |
Put On Hold Or Person Unavailable
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Un momento, por favor. | un moˈmen.to poɾ faˈβoɾ | One moment, please. |
| Le paso con [Nombre]. | le ˈpa.so kon [ˈnom.βɾe] | I’ll put you through to [Name]. |
| Lo siento, ahora no está. | lo ˈsj̯en.to aˈo.ɾa no esˈta | I’m sorry, they’re not here right now. |
| Quiere dejar un mensaje? | ˈkje.ɾe deˈxaɾ un menˈsa.xe | Would you like to leave a message? |
| Podría llamar más tarde? | poˈðɾi.a ʝaˈmaɾ mas ˈtaɾ.ðe | Could you call again later? |
Helpful phrase when you’re answering:
- En qué puedo ayudarle? /en ke ˈpwe.ðo aʝuˈðaɾ.le/ — How can I help you?
Clarifying, Repeating And Spelling Names
Professional calls are 40% listening and 60% saying “sorry, what?” politely.
Asking To Repeat Or Slow Down
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Disculpe, puede repetir, por favor? | ðisˈkul.pe ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ poɾ faˈβoɾ | Sorry, can you repeat, please? |
| No se escucha bien. | no se esˈkutʃa ˈbjen | The line isn’t clear. |
| Puede hablar un poco más despacio? | ˈpwe.ðe aˈβlaɾ un ˈpo.ko mas ðesˈpa.sjo | Can you speak a little more slowly? |
| Cómo se escribe? | ˈko.mo se esˈkɾi.βe | How do you spell it? |
Confirming Details
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Entonces, la cita es el martes a las 10, verdad? | enˈton.ses la ˈθi.ta / ˈsi.ta es el ˈmaɾ.tes a las ˈdjes βeɾˈðað | So, the appointment is on Tuesday at 10, right? |
| Sólo para confirmar… | ˈso.lo ˈpa.ɾa koɱfiɾˈmaɾ | Just to confirm… |
| Me puede enviar un correo, por favor? | me ˈpwe.ðe enˈbjaɾ un koˈre.o poɾ faˈβoɾ | Could you send me an email, please? |
Example sentence:
- Disculpe, no se escucha bien. Puede repetir su nombre, por favor? /ðisˈkul.pe no se esˈkutʃa ˈbjen ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ su ˈnom.βɾe poɾ faˈβoɾ/
I’m sorry, the line isn’t clear. Could you repeat your name, please?
Leaving And Taking Messages
If the person you want isn’t available, you’ll be leaving messages like a pro.
Leaving A Message
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Sí, por favor, dígale que llamó [Tu Nombre]. | si poɾ faˈβoɾ ˈdi.ɣa.le ke ʝaˈmo [tu ˈnom.βɾe] | Yes, please tell them [Your Name] called. |
| Mi número es… | mi ˈnu.me.ɾo es | My number is… |
| Puede decirle que me llame, por favor? | ˈpwe.ðe deˈθiɾ.le / deˈsiɾ.le ke me ˈʝa.me poɾ faˈβoɾ | Could you tell them to call me, please? |
| Llamo por el tema de… | ˈʝa.mo poɾ el ˈte.ma ðe | I’m calling about… |
Taking A Message (If You Answer Calls)
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Quiere dejarle un mensaje? | ˈkje.ɾe deˈxaɾ.le un menˈsa.xe | Would you like to leave a message? |
| Cómo se llama, por favor? | ˈko.mo se ˈʝa.ma poɾ faˈβoɾ | What’s your name, please? |
| Me repite su número, por favor? | me reˈpi.te su ˈnu.me.ɾo poɾ faˈβoɾ | Can you repeat your number, please? |
| Le diré que ha llamado. | le ðiˈɾe ke a ʝaˈma.ðo | I’ll tell them you called. |
Ending The Call Politely
We want to land the plane smoothly, not just “OK BYE click”.
Common Professional Closings
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Muchas gracias por su ayuda. | ˈmu.tʃas ˈɣɾa.sjas poɾ su aˈʝu.ða | Thank you very much for your help. |
| Gracias por la información. | ˈɣɾa.sjas poɾ la infoɾmaˈθjon / infoɾmaˈsjon | Thank you for the information. |
| Que tenga buen día. | ke ˈten.ɡa ˈbwen ˈdi.a | Have a nice day. (formal) |
| Hasta luego, buenas tardes. | as.ta ˈlwe.ɣo ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.ðes | Goodbye, good afternoon. |
| Cualquier cosa, me llama. | kwalˈkjeɾ ˈko.sa me ˈʝa.ma | If anything comes up, give me a call. (Latin America, semi-formal) |
Simple structure: thanks + goodbye + “nice day”. You can mix:
- Muchas gracias, hasta luego.
- Gracias por su tiempo, que tenga buen día.
Usage Notes And Common Mistakes
A few classic pitfalls and how to dodge them:
1. Forgetting usted in professional settings
If you’re talking to someone from a company, use usted:
- Cómo está? /ˈko.mo esˈta/ instead of Cómo estás?
- Puede repetir? /ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ/ instead of Puedes repetir?
If they say háblame de tú, then you switch.
2. Translating English filler directly
In English, we say “So, yeah…” and “Okay, perfect, awesome.” Spanish professional calls are usually less chatty. Use:
- De acuerdo. /de aˈkweɾ.ðo/ — Okay, agreed.
- Perfecto. /peɾˈfek.to/ — Perfect.
- Está bien. /esˈta ˈbjen/ — That’s fine.
3. Panicking and staying silent
If you don’t understand, don’t panic-breathe into the phone. Use:
- Disculpe, no le escucho bien. /ðisˈkul.pe no le esˈkutʃo ˈbjen/ — I’m sorry, I can’t hear you well.
- Puede repetir, por favor? /ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ poɾ faˈβoɾ/ — Could you repeat, please?
4. Forgetting to identify yourself
In business, calling and just saying “Hola, quisiera hablar con…” without your name can sound abrupt. In the first sentence, include:
- Habla [Tu Nombre]. /ˈa.βla tu ˈnom.βɾe/
- Le llama [Tu Nombre]. /le ˈʝa.ma tu ˈnom.βɾe/
5. Overusing “alo” or “bueno” everywhere
- Aló /aˈlo/ is common in some countries (e.g., Chile, Colombia, Perú).
- Bueno /ˈbwe.no/ as an answer is typical in Mexico.
In professional contexts, you’re safer with Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches plus your name or company.
Mini Dialogues
Each line: Spanish, IPA, then natural English.
- Calling An Office To Ask For Someone
Buenos días, habla Laura Gómez.
/ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla ˈlau.ɾa ˈɣo.mes/
Good morning, this is Laura Gómez speaking.
Llamo de parte de la empresa Atlas, podría hablar con el señor Ramírez?
/ˈʝa.mo ðe ˈpaɾ.te ðe la emˈpɾe.sa ˈat.las poˈðɾi.a aˈβlaɾ kon el seˈɲoɾ raˈmi.ɾes/
I’m calling on behalf of Atlas Company; could I speak with Mr. Ramírez?
Un momento, por favor, le paso con él.
/un moˈmen.to poɾ faˈβoɾ le ˈpa.so kon el/
One moment, please, I’ll put you through to him.
- Confirming An Appointment
Buenas tardes, le llama David Chen.
/ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.ðes le ˈʝa.ma ðaˈβið tʃen/
Good afternoon, this is David Chen calling.
Llamo para confirmar la cita del jueves a las 3.
/ˈʝa.mo ˈpa.ɾa koɱfiɾˈmaɾ la ˈθi.ta / ˈsi.ta ðel ˈxwe.βes a las tɾes/
I’m calling to confirm the appointment on Thursday at 3.
Sí, la cita es el jueves a las 3, con la doctora Fernández.
/si la ˈθi.ta / ˈsi.ta es el ˈxwe.βes a las tɾes kon la ðokˈto.ɾa feɾˈnan.ðes/
Yes, the appointment is Thursday at 3, with Dr. Fernández.
Muchas gracias, que tenga buen día.
/ˈmu.tʃas ˈɣɾa.sjas ke ˈten.ɡa ˈbwen ˈdi.a/
Thank you very much, have a nice day.
- Leaving A Message
Buenos días, habla Mark Wilson.
/ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla maɾk ˈwil.son/
Good morning, this is Mark Wilson speaking.
Lo siento, el señor López no está disponible ahora.
/lo ˈsj̯en.to el seˈɲoɾ ˈlo.pes no es.ta ðis.poˈni.βle aˈo.ɾa/
I’m sorry, Mr. López isn’t available right now.
De acuerdo, podría decirle que me llame cuando pueda?
/de aˈkweɾ.ðo poˈðɾi.a deˈθiɾ.le / deˈsiɾ.le ke me ˈʝa.me ˈkwan.do ˈpwe.ða/
Okay, could you tell him to call me when he can?
Claro, tomaŕe nota de su mensaje.
/ˈkla.ɾo toˈma.ɾe ˈno.ta ðe su menˈsa.xe/
Of course, I’ll take note of your message.
Quick Reference
A compact table you can screenshot before your next call.
| Spanish | IPA | English |
| Buenos días, habla [Nombre]. | ˈbwe.nos ˈði.as ˈa.βla [ˈnom.βɾe] | Good morning, this is [Name] speaking. |
| Le llama [Nombre]. | le ˈʝa.ma [ˈnom.βɾe] | This is [Name] calling. |
| En qué puedo ayudarle? | en ke ˈpwe.ðo aʝuˈðaɾ.le | How can I help you? |
| Podría hablar con [Nombre]? | poˈðɾi.a aˈβlaɾ kon [ˈnom.βɾe] | Could I speak with [Name]? |
| Un momento, por favor. | un moˈmen.to poɾ faˈβoɾ | One moment, please. |
| No se escucha bien. | no se esˈkutʃa ˈbjen | The line isn’t clear. |
| Puede repetir, por favor? | ˈpwe.ðe repeˈtiɾ poɾ faˈβoɾ | Could you repeat, please? |
| Sí, quiero dejar un mensaje. | si ˈkje.ɾo deˈxaɾ un menˈsa.xe | Yes, I’d like to leave a message. |
| Mi número es… | mi ˈnu.me.ɾo es | My number is… |
| Muchas gracias por su ayuda. | ˈmu.tʃas ˈɣɾa.sjas poɾ su aˈʝu.ða | Thank you very much for your help. |
| Que tenga buen día. | ke ˈten.ɡa ˈbwen ˈdi.a | Have a nice day. |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Greeting Drill (1 minute)
Stand up (optional but powerful), pretend to pick up a phone, and say out loud three versions:
- Buenos días, habla [Tu Nombre].
- Buenas tardes, [Empresa X], en qué puedo ayudarle?
- Buenas noches, oficina de [Nombre], dígame.
- Buenos días, habla [Tu Nombre].
- Reason-For-Calling Builder (1 minute)
Fill in this pattern three times with your real life:
- Llamo para confirmar…
- Llamo para pedir información sobre…
- Llamo para cambiar la cita de…
- Llamo para confirmar…
- Clarification Phrases Loop (1 minute)
Repeat these slowly 5 times each, so they come out automatically:
- Disculpe, no se escucha bien.
- Puede repetir, por favor?
- Puede hablar un poco más despacio?
- Disculpe, no se escucha bien.
- Message Mini-Script (1 minute)
Memorize and practice this “leave a message” combo:
- Sí, por favor, dígale que llamó [Tu Nombre].
- Mi número es…
- Puede decirle que me llame, por favor?
- Sí, por favor, dígale que llamó [Tu Nombre].
- Shadow One Dialogue (1 minute)
Pick your favorite Mini Dialogue above and act it out, doing both voices. Focus on sounding calm and polite rather than perfect. - Real-Life Mission
Before your next real phone call in Spanish, choose two phrases from the Quick Reference table and decide: “I will definitely use these.” After the call, note which ones you used and which you forgot, then try again next time.
Turning Phone Panic Into Phone Superpower
Professional phone calls in Spanish stop being scary once you realize they’re basically Lego: a few standard pieces you keep clicking together in different orders. With “Buenos días, habla…”, “Llamo para…”, “Puede repetir, por favor?” and a calm “Que tenga buen día” at the end, you’ll sound more professional, more confident, and much less like you’re secretly praying for the line to drop.