German - Phone Messages

Lesson 139 of 158

Learner practicing German phone phrases on a smartphone; topic: phone messages and short calls.

Goal: Short phrases for calls, holding, and passing on messages

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson is friendly and practical — ready for real phone moments. Practice listening, repeating, and using quick phrases you can use right away.

Level A2: In Lesson 139 you'll practice common phone-message phrases in German. We'll focus on saying why you called (Ich rufe wegen ...), asking when someone will be back (Wann ist ... wieder da?), asking someone to hold, checking the connection, and voicemail prompts. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson is built for quick, real-world practice.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Say why you are calling using Ich rufe wegen ___.
  • Ask when someone will be back: Wann ist ___ wieder da?
  • Handle short phone tasks: ask to hold, check the connection, and pass on or confirm messages.
  • Recognize and use polite voicemail prompts in formal situations (Level A2).
Close-up of a phone screen with a voicemail prompt in German, illustrating phone message vocabulary for A2 learners.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ich rufe wegen ___ an.

I'm calling about ___.

Meaning: I’m calling about ___.

When to use: Use this to state the reason for your call (topic, person, or issue).

Tip: Remember 'wegen' often pairs with a noun phrase (genitive), e.g. wegen des Berichts — spoken German may simplify endings.

Ich rufe wegen der Rechnung an.
I'm calling about the invoice.
Ich rufe wegen des Termins an.
I'm calling about the appointment.

Wann ist ___ wieder da?

When will ___ be back?

Meaning: When will ___ be back?

When to use: Ask this at reception or when someone isn’t available to take the call.

Wann ist Frau Weber wieder da?
When will Ms. Weber be back?
Wann ist der Arzt wieder da?
When will the doctor be back?

Einen Moment bitte.

Please hold for a moment.

Meaning: Please hold for a moment.

When to use: Say this when you need the caller to wait briefly on the line.

Einen Moment bitte, ich hole den Kollegen.
One moment please, I'll get my colleague.
Einen Moment bitte, ich verbinde Sie.
Please hold for a moment; I'll connect you.

Hörst du mich?

Can you hear me?

Meaning: Can you hear me?

When to use: Use this to check the audio if the call sounds scratchy or quiet.

Tip: Be careful with formality: use 'Hören Sie mich?' in formal contexts instead of 'Hörst du mich?'.

Hörst du mich? Die Verbindung war schlecht.
Can you hear me? The connection was bad.
Hörst du mich jetzt?
Can you hear me now?

Die Verbindung ist schlecht.

The line is bad.

Meaning: The line is bad.

When to use: Say this to explain problems with sound quality or dropped audio.

Die Verbindung ist schlecht, kannst du mich hören?
The line is bad; can you hear me?
Wir haben eine schlechte Verbindung.
We have a bad connection.

Ich habe deinen Anruf verpasst.

I missed your call.

Meaning: I missed your call.

When to use: Use this when you are returning a call after it rang while you were away.

Entschuldigung, ich habe deinen Anruf verpasst.
Sorry, I missed your call.
Ich habe gestern deinen Anruf verpasst.
I missed your call yesterday.

Ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen.

I got your message.

Meaning: I got your message.

When to use: Say this to confirm you received a voicemail or text message.

Danke, ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen.
Thanks, I got your message.
Ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen und antworte später.
I received your message and will reply later.

Ich gebe ___ die Nachricht weiter.

I'll give ___ the message.

Meaning: I’ll give ___ the message.

When to use: Promise to pass the caller's message on to the person concerned (use dative for the recipient).

Ich gebe ihm die Nachricht weiter.
I'll give him the message.
Ich gebe Frau Braun die Nachricht weiter.
I'll pass the message to Ms. Braun.

Bitte hinterlassen Sie nach dem Signalton eine Nachricht.

Please leave a message after the beep.

Meaning: Please leave a message after the beep.

When to use: Standard voicemail prompt — used in formal automated messages.

Tip: This uses formal 'Sie' — don't switch to 'du' in an automated, formal message.

Bitte hinterlassen Sie nach dem Signalton eine Nachricht.
Please leave a message after the beep.
Nach dem Ton: Bitte hinterlassen Sie nach dem Signalton eine Nachricht.
After the tone: Please leave a message after the beep.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

A short returned-call exchange at work.

Two people on a phone call practicing typical phrases like asking someone to hold and checking the connection in German.

Who says they missed a call?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Hallo David, ich habe deinen Anruf verpasst.

Hi David, I missed your call.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Kein Problem. Ich rufe wegen des Berichts an.

No problem. I'm calling about the report.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Einen Moment bitte.

One moment, please.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Hörst du mich? Die Verbindung ist schlecht.

Can you hear me? The line is bad.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Wann ist Lisa wieder da? Ich möchte ihr das sagen.

When will Lisa be back? I want to tell her.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ich gebe ihr die Nachricht weiter. Ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen.

I'll pass the message to her. I got your message.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German phrase means 'Please hold for a moment'?

Which phrase would you hear on a voicemail prompting you to leave a message?

How do you say 'I missed your call' informally in German?

Which phrase explains there is a problem with audio quality?

On the phone when you barely hear the other person, you ask: 'Can you hear me?'

Am Telefon, wenn man den anderen kaum hört, fragt man: '___'

On voicemail you often hear: 'Please leave a message after the beep.'

Auf der Mailbox hört man oft: '___'

After the meeting she calls and says: 'I'm calling about the report.'

Nach dem Meeting ruft sie an und sagt: 'Ich rufe wegen ___ an.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich rufe wegen ___ an.

I'm calling about ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wann ist ___ wieder da?

When will ___ be back?

Say this phrase out loud:

Einen Moment bitte.

Please hold for a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

Hörst du mich?

Can you hear me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Die Verbindung ist schlecht.

The line is bad.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe deinen Anruf verpasst.

I missed your call.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich habe deine Nachricht bekommen.

I got your message.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich gebe ___ die Nachricht weiter.

I'll give ___ the message.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bitte hinterlassen Sie nach dem Signalton eine Nachricht.

Please leave a message after the beep.