A phone call removes the visual clues that help you in person. Prepare a short introduction, one clear request and a way to check the answer. In this fictional practice call, Maria wants to speak to Eleni, but Eleni is not available. The names are invented and no real telephone number is needed.
A short exchange
| Παρακαλώ; | Hello? (answering the phone) |
| Καλημέρα σας. Είμαι η Μαρία. Μπορώ να μιλήσω με την Ελένη; | Good morning. I’m Maria. Can I speak to Eleni? |
| Λυπάμαι, δεν είναι εδώ αυτή τη στιγμή. | I’m sorry, she isn’t here at the moment. |
| Μπορείτε να της πείτε να με πάρει τηλέφωνο; | Can you tell her to call me? |
| Βεβαίως. Έχει τον αριθμό σας; | Of course. Does she have your number? |
| Ναι, τον έχει. Ευχαριστώ πολύ. Γεια σας. | Yes, she has it. Thank you very much. Goodbye. |
Recognise the opening
Παρακαλώ; can function as a phone greeting. Here it is not a request for an object. The caller then says Καλημέρα σας and gives her name: Είμαι η Μαρία. Practise with a second invented name, Είμαι ο Νίκος. Learn the name together with its article in this introduction.
Make one request
Μπορώ να μιλήσω με την Ελένη; means “Can I speak to Eleni?” If the person is unavailable, δεν είναι εδώ αυτή τη στιγμή means “is not here at the moment”. It does not tell you when they will return. You can ask Πότε μπορώ να ξαναπάρω; — “When can I call again?”
Leave a simple message
Μπορείτε να της πείτε να με πάρει τηλέφωνο; asks someone to tell her to call you. Της refers to Eleni; με refers to the caller. To ask someone to tell Nikos, use Μπορείτε να του πείτε να με πάρει τηλέφωνο; Keep the rest of the request unchanged while practising this contrast.
Check the contact detail
Έχει τον αριθμό σας; asks whether the person has your number. The reply Ναι, τον έχει confirms that she does; it does not introduce a new number. If you practise giving numbers, use invented digits and ask Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε; — “Can you repeat that?” Check the digits before ending the call.
Check your understanding
- Who is calling, Maria or Eleni?
- Is Eleni available now?
- What does Maria ask the other person to do?
- How does the message change if it is for Nikos?
See the answers
1. Maria. 2. No, she is not there at the moment. 3. Tell Eleni to call Maria. 4. Replace της with του: Μπορείτε να του πείτε να με πάρει τηλέφωνο;
Practise without looking
Write three prompts: your invented name, the person you want and the callback request. Make the call using those prompts rather than reading the whole dialogue. Then switch roles. End politely with Ευχαριστώ πολύ. Γεια σας.
Practise asking for repetition. Review greetings and polite expressions.