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BolFluent
Phone Etiquette
Speaking English on the phone is its own skill — opening, holding, transferring, ending. The standard format of a customer care call.
Explained
Phone calls strip away body language — you have only your voice. Knowing the right opener, polite hold phrases, and a clean ending makes you sound professional. This lesson walks through a complete call structure from hello to goodbye.
Useful phrases
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| Hello, this is Ravi speaking. Standard opener when you answer. 'This is X speaking' more formal than just 'Hello'. | हैलो, मैं रवि बोल रहा हूँ। |
| May I speak to Mr. Sharma, please? Polite request to talk to someone. | क्या मैं श्री शर्मा से बात कर सकता हूँ? |
| May I know who's calling? Polite way to ask the caller's name. | क्या मैं जान सकता हूँ कौन बोल रहे हैं? |
| Could you hold on for a moment, please? Asks the caller to wait. 'Hold the line' is more formal. | क्या आप एक पल के लिए रुक सकते हैं? |
| I'm transferring your call. Tell the caller you're passing the call to someone else. | मैं आपका कॉल ट्रांसफ़र कर रहा हूँ। |
| Could you speak up a little? I can't hear you. Politely ask the caller to talk louder. | थोड़ा ज़ोर से बोल सकते हैं? मुझे सुनाई नहीं दे रहा। |
| Sorry, you've got the wrong number. Polite way to tell a stranger they dialled wrong. | माफ़ कीजिए, आपका नंबर ग़लत लगा है। |
| Can I take a message? When the person they want isn't available. | क्या मैं संदेश ले लूँ? |
| I'll get back to you soon. Means 'I'll call you back later'. | मैं जल्दी ही आपसे संपर्क करूँगा। |
| Thanks for calling. Have a good day. Standard polite ending. | कॉल करने के लिए धन्यवाद। आपका दिन शुभ हो। |
| I think we've got a bad connection. When the call is breaking up. | लगता है कनेक्शन ख़राब है। |
| Let me transfer you to the right department. Common in customer-care calls. | मैं आपको सही विभाग में ट्रांसफ़र करता हूँ। |
Sample conversation
| A | Good morning, ABC Services. How may I help you? गुड मॉर्निंग, ABC सर्विसेज़। मैं आपकी कैसे मदद कर सकता हूँ? |
| B | Hi, this is Ravi. I'd like to speak to Ms. Sharma, please. हाय, मैं रवि हूँ। क्या मैं सुश्री शर्मा से बात कर सकता हूँ? |
| A | Just a moment, please. May I know what it's regarding? एक पल रुकिए। क्या मैं जान सकता हूँ ये किस बारे में है? |
| B | It's about my account renewal. ये मेरे अकाउंट के रिन्यूअल के बारे में है। |
| A | Sure, I'll transfer your call. Please hold on. ठीक है, मैं आपका कॉल ट्रांसफ़र करता हूँ। कृपया रुकिए। |
| B | Thank you. धन्यवाद। |
Practise
1. Polite way to ask someone to wait?
- Wait!
- Could you hold on for a moment?
- Stand by.
- Stay there.
Show the answer
Could you hold on for a moment?
2. When you dial the wrong number, the other person says:
- You're useless.
- Sorry, you've got the wrong number.
- Why are you calling?
- Try again.
Show the answer
Sorry, you've got the wrong number.
3. How do you introduce yourself on a call?
- I am here.
- This is Ravi speaking.
- Ravi I am.
- Speaking Ravi.
Show the answer
This is Ravi speaking.
Related lessons
- ConversationReady phrases for real-life situations
- Office Small TalkMonday-morning, lunch, weekend chat
- Email & WhatsApp WritingFormal vs casual; avoid Indian email clichés
- Social Media EnglishCaptions, comments, LinkedIn
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