Spanish - Phone Messages

Lesson 139 of 159

Person holding a phone, practicing short phone messages in Spanish for everyday calls.

Goal: Short phrases for calls, messages and connection problems

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

Welcome to Lesson 139 — a friendly, focused practice on phone messages. We'll hear short phrases, try them in a tiny conversation, then practice with quick quizzes.

Level A2: This lesson focuses on common phone phrases used when leaving or taking messages, checking the connection, and asking when someone will be back. You'll practice saying reasons for calls, asking about return times, asking someone to wait, reporting bad signal, confirming messages, and leaving voicemail prompts. CEFR-aligned and phone-ready — perfect for real-life calls.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn and say 9 useful phone-message phrases for everyday calls.
  • Practice asking when someone will return and how to leave or pass messages.
  • Build confidence in short phone exchanges at A2 level.
A small office scene showing a caller leaving a message — Spanish phone phrases for 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.

Llamo por ___.

I'm calling about ___.

Meaning: I'm calling about ___.

When to use: Use this to state concisely the reason for your call (e.g., 'Llamo por la factura').

Llamo por la factura de este mes.
I'm calling about this month's bill.
Llamo por una reserva que hice ayer.
I'm calling about a reservation I made yesterday.

¿Cuándo regresa ___?

When will ___ be back?

Meaning: When will ___ be back?

When to use: Ask this to find out when someone (a colleague, friend) will return and be available.

¿Cuándo regresa el señor García?
When will Mr. García be back?
¿Cuándo regresa Marta hoy?
When will Marta be back today?

Un momento, por favor.

Please hold for a moment.

Meaning: Please hold for a moment.

When to use: Use this politely on the phone when you need the caller to wait briefly.

Un momento, por favor. Voy a revisar eso.
One moment, please. I'll check that.
Un momento, por favor, le paso con ella.
One moment, please, I'll transfer you to her.

¿Me escuchas?

Can you hear me?

Meaning: Can you hear me?

When to use: Say this to check the connection if audio is unclear. For formal use: '¿Me escucha?'.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the formal form with friends; use '¿Me escucha?' only in formal contexts.

¿Me escuchas? La conexión está un poco mala.
Can you hear me? The connection is a bit bad.
¿Me escuchas bien ahora?
Can you hear me well now?

Hay mala señal.

The line is bad.

Meaning: The line is bad.

When to use: Use this to explain that the phone connection is poor or breaking up.

Perdón, hay mala señal en mi zona.
Sorry, there's bad signal where I am.
Hay mala señal; te escucho con interferencia.
The line is bad; I hear interference.

No alcancé a contestarte.

I missed your call.

Meaning: I missed your call.

When to use: Use this when you couldn't get to the phone and want to apologize or explain.

Tip: Learners sometimes say 'No contesté' — that's okay, but 'No alcancé a contestarte' is very natural in spoken Spanish.

Perdón, no alcancé a contestarte esta mañana.
Sorry, I missed your call this morning.
No alcancé a contestarte porque estaba en una reunión.
I missed your call because I was in a meeting.

Recibí tu mensaje.

I got your message.

Meaning: I got your message.

When to use: Use this to confirm you received the caller's message or text (informal tú form).

Recibí tu mensaje sobre la cita, gracias.
I got your message about the appointment, thanks.
Recibí tu mensaje y te llamo luego.
I got your message and I'll call you later.

Le paso el mensaje a ___.

I'll give ___ the message.

Meaning: I'll give ___ the message.

When to use: Say this to promise to pass on a message to the person the caller wants to reach.

Le paso el mensaje a Ana cuando vuelva.
I'll give Ana the message when she returns.
No se preocupe, le paso el mensaje a su jefe.
Don't worry, I'll pass the message to your boss.

Por favor, deje su mensaje después del tono.

Please leave a message after the beep.

Meaning: Please leave a message after the beep.

When to use: Standard recorded phrase for voicemail prompts; formal usted form is normal here.

Por favor, deje su mensaje después del tono.
Please leave your message after the tone.
Si no estamos, por favor deje su mensaje después del tono.
If we're not available, please leave your message after the tone.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Asking about someone and leaving a promise to pass a message

Two people on a phone call practicing asking when someone will return and leaving a message.

What does Anna ask about?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Llamo por Marta. ¿Está?

I'm calling about Marta. Is she there?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Un momento, por favor.

One moment, please.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Me escuchas?

Can you hear me?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Hay mala señal, no te oigo bien.

The line is bad, I can't hear you well.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Cuándo regresa Marta?

When will Marta be back?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Le paso el mensaje a Marta cuando vuelva.

I'll give Marta the message when she returns.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'Please leave a message after the beep.'?

If the connection keeps cutting out, what should you say?

How do you check if the other person can hear you?

Which phrase promises to pass on a caller's message?

Sorry, I couldn't answer your call earlier. I missed your call.

Sorry, I couldn't answer your call earlier. ___.

If I'm not available, the machine says: Please leave a message after the tone.

If I'm not available, the machine says: ___.

Before I check, I might say to a caller: One moment, please.

Before I check, I might say to a caller: ___.

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:

Llamo por ___.

I'm calling about ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cuándo regresa ___?

When will ___ be back?

Say this phrase out loud:

Un momento, por favor.

Please hold for a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me escuchas?

Can you hear me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Hay mala señal.

The line is bad.

Say this phrase out loud:

No alcancé a contestarte.

I missed your call.

Say this phrase out loud:

Recibí tu mensaje.

I got your message.

Say this phrase out loud:

Le paso el mensaje a ___.

I'll give ___ the message.

Say this phrase out loud:

Por favor, deje su mensaje después del tono.

Please leave a message after the tone.