colgar el teléfono
/kolɡaɾ el telefono/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get off the phone' is translated into Spanish as colgar el teléfono.
This phrase is used to describe the act of ending a telephone conversation by hanging up. You can use the full phrase colgar el teléfono or simply the verb colgar to express the same idea.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb colgar literally means 'to hang', following the same logic as the English expression 'to hang up'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb colgar is often used intransitively, meaning you can say colgar on its own to mean 'to hang up' without needing to explicitly mention the phone.
Did you know?
- In modern slang, colgarse can describe someone who zones out or loses their train of thought during a conversation.
- The verb colgar is a linguistic relative of the English word 'couch', as both share roots in the Latin word collocāre meaning 'to set in place'.
- While you use colgar to mean 'to hang up', if you want to say that someone 'hung up on you' in a rude way, you would say me colgó.
Examples in context
- Por favor, cuelgue el teléfono. Necesito hablar con usted.Please hang up the phone. I need to talk to you.
- ¡Corta la llamada ahora mismo! Necesitamos hablar urgentemente.Hang up the call right now! We need to talk urgently.
- No puedes colgar el teléfono ahora.You cannot get off the phone now.
- Tengo que colgar el teléfono pronto.I have to get off the phone soon.
- ¿Por qué vas a colgar el teléfono tan rápido?Why are you going to get off the phone so fast?
Example conversation
Elena is calling Alejandro while he is busy with housework.
- ElenaHola Alejandro, ¿tienes un momento?Hello Alejandro, do you have a moment?
- AlejandroLo siento Elena, tengo que colgar el teléfono ya.I'm sorry Elena, I have to get off the phone now.
- ElenaEstá bien, te llamo más tarde.That's fine, I'll call you later.
- AlejandroGracias, hablamos luego.Thanks, we'll talk later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colgar, el, teléfono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
