Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| appeler | /a.p(ə).le/ |
| téléphoner | /te.le.fɔ.ne/ |
The verb appeler is a general term for calling someone, which can include calling out a person's name. If you want to specify that the contact is made via a telephone, you can use téléphoner. Other related nouns include appel, which refers to a beckoning or a summons, while chant and cri refer to the characteristic cries of animals or birds.
Which one should you use?
While both appeler and téléphoner mean to call, appeler is more general and can mean calling someone's name, whereas téléphoner specifically refers to the act of using a telephone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, jaser au téléphone is used in informal situations to mean 'talk on the phone'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The two verbs behave differently with objects: appeler is a direct transitive verb and is used directly with the person being called (e.g., appeler Marie). In contrast, téléphoner requires the preposition à before the person being called (e.g., téléphoner à quelqu'un).
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/a.p(ə).le/', 'syllables': 3}
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid the mistake of using téléphoner as a direct transitive verb by saying téléphoner quelqu'un. You must include the preposition à (e.g., téléphoner à quelqu'un).
Did you know?
- While téléphoner is the standard term, the French use passer un coup de fil as a common idiom for 'making a quick call'. This literally translates to 'passing a blow of wire'.
- The phrase s'appeler is the reflexive form of appeler and is used to say 'my name is'. Instead of saying 'I am called', French speakers literally say 'I call myself'.
- The English word 'appeal' is a direct relative of 'appeler', sharing the same Latin root 'appellāre'.
Examples in context
- Je dois appeler Tom.I've got to call Tom.This example shows how to use appeler to say you must call someone.Tatoeba #3977312 by nimfeo, translation #2359713 by CK
- Il a promis d'appeler.He promised that he'd call.This example demonstrates the use of appeler regarding a promise to call.Tatoeba #11221280 by lbdx, translation #7403061 by CH
- Je veux lui téléphoner.I want to call him.This example illustrates how to use téléphoner with the required preposition to express wanting to call someone.Tatoeba #8381554 by Julien_PDC, translation #12266418 by Miktsoanit
- Je vous appelle pour confirmer notre rendez-vousI'm calling you to confirm our appointment
- Je souhaite téléphoner à mon collègueI want to call my colleague
- Je tente de vous joindre depuis ce matinI've been trying to reach you since this morning
- Je vais passer un coup de fil à mon patronI'm going to make a phone call to my boss
- Je t'appelle demain matinI'll call you tomorrow morning
- Je vais téléphoner à ma mère ce soirI'm going to call my mother tonight
- J'ai passé un coup de fil à mon ami pour l'inviter au cinémaI called my friend to invite him/her to the movies
- 448 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are at home planning their evening.
- NathanTu vas appeler ta mère ce soir ?Are you going to call your mother tonight?
- ManonOui, je vais l'appeler après le dîner.Yes, I am going to call her after dinner.
- NathanEst-ce que tu peux aussi appeler le restaurant ?Can you also call the restaurant?
- ManonD'accord, je vais appeler pour réserver.Okay, I will call to make a reservation.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “call” translations and entries appeler, téléphoner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries appeler, téléphoner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
