hablar por teléfono
/ablaɾ poɾ telefono/from spelling rules
To talk on the phone in Spanish is hablar por teléfono.
The phrase is used to describe the act of engaging in a conversation using a telephone. If you wish to specify that the conversation is taking place on a mobile device, you can replace teléfono with celular to say hablar por celular.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uses the infinitive hablar (to talk) followed by the prepositional phrase por teléfono (by phone).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is constructed using the infinitive verb hablar followed by the prepositional phrase por teléfono.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying hablar en el teléfono (to talk in the phone), which is a common error made by English speakers translating 'on the phone' too literally. Instead, use the preposition por to mean 'by' or 'via'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to start a phone call with ¿Diga? or ¿Bueno?, which translate literally to 'Speak?' or 'Good?', rather than a standard 'Hello'.
- The word hablar comes from the Latin fābulārī, which meant to chat or converse. This is the same root that gave English the word 'fable'.
- In Spain, people use the word móvil for a mobile phone, while in Latin America, celular is more common. Using the wrong one can immediately reveal which side of the Atlantic a speaker is from.
Examples in context
- Me gusta hablar por teléfono.I like to talk on the phone.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference to use hablar por teléfono.Tatoeba #13709412 by ecorralest101, translation #13709405 by frpzzd
- No me gusta hablar por teléfono.I don't like to talk on the phone.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike to use hablar por teléfono.Tatoeba #13709428 by ecorralest101, translation #13709426 by frpzzd
- A Tom le gusta hablar por teléfono.Tom likes to talk on the phone.This sentence is useful for expressing someone else's preference to use hablar por teléfono.Tatoeba #1203843 by marcelostockle, translation #1164459 by CK
- Necesito hablar por teléfono con el Sr. RodríguezI need to talk on the phone with Mr. Rodríguez
- La señora Gómez conversó por teléfono con su abogadoMrs. Gómez talked on the phone with her lawyer
- Es importante comunicarse por teléfono con nuestros clientesIt is important to communicate on the phone with our clients
- Voy a hablar por teléfono con mi mejor amigaI'm going to talk on the phone with my best friend
- Te llamo por teléfono después de la escuelaI'll call you on the phone after school
- Ayer charlé por teléfono con mi primo durante una horaYesterday I chatted on the phone with my cousin for an hour
- Voy a hablar por teléfono con mi madre.I'm going to talk on the phone with my mother.
- Ana charló por teléfono con su novio.Ana chatted on the phone with her boyfriend.
- Después del trabajo, voy a hablar por teléfono con mi mejor amigo esta tarde.After work, I'm going to talk on the phone with my best friend this afternoon.
- Ellos siempre charlan por teléfono por la noche.They always chat on the phone at night.
- Voy a llamar por teléfono a Pedro para invitarlo a la fiesta.I'm going to call Pedro to invite him to the party.
- Charlamos por teléfono para ponernos de acuerdo sobre el proyecto.We chatted on the phone to coordinate the project.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing how to contact a friend.
- AlejandroPrefiero hablar por teléfono con ella ahora.I prefer to talk on the phone with her now.
- LucíaEstá bien, pero ella está muy ocupada.That is fine, but she is very busy.
- Alejandro¿Podemos hablar por teléfono más tarde entonces?Can we talk on the phone later then?
- LucíaSí, Alejandro, llámala a las seis.Yes, Alejandro, call her at six.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hablar, por, teléfono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
