French Phone Calls Part 1: Opening Lines and Essential Phrases

Basic Phone Greetings

The first seconds of a French phone call follow specific cultural patterns that differ from English.

Initial Answer:

1. "Allô?" (Hello?)

• Standard phone greeting when picking up
• Used only for phone calls, not in person

2. "Oui, bonjour" (Yes, hello)

• More formal first response
• Common in business settings

Identifying Yourself

1. "C'est [name] à l'appareil" (This is [name] speaking)

• Formal way to introduce yourself

2. "[Name] speaking" (less formal)

• Just saying your name is common with friends

Example Opening Exchanges:

1. Caller: "Allô?" Receiver: "Oui, bonjour" Caller: "C'est Marie à l'appareil"

2. Caller: "Allô, je voudrais parler à Thomas" (Hello, I'd like to speak to Thomas)

• Direct way to ask for someone

Essential First Questions

1. "Est-ce que je pourrais parler à [name]?" (Could I speak to [name]?)

• Polite way to ask for someone

2. "Je suis bien au [number]?" (Have I reached [number]?)

• Verifying you've dialed correctly

Wrong Number Phrases

1. "Pardon, je me suis trompé de numéro" (Sorry, I've dialed the wrong number)

2. "Désolé, ce n'est pas le bon numéro" (Sorry, this isn't the right number)

Cultural Tips

• French speakers always greet before stating their purpose
• Speaking more slowly than in person is appreciated
• Formal language is standard for business calls

Common Opening Problems

1. "La connexion n'est pas bonne" (The connection isn't good)

2. "Je vous entends mal" (I can't hear you well)

Phone calls in French require more formality than English calls, especially at the beginning.