Telefonzelle
[teleˈfoːnˌtsɛlə]feminine
The English phrase "telephone booth" is translated into German as Telefonzelle. Wiktionary also lists Telefonkabine.
Meaning: small enclosure housing a public telephone (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Telefonzelle | [teleˈfoːnˌtsɛlə] (narrow) [ˈteːləfoːnˌtsɛlə] (narrow) |
feminine |
| Telefonkabine | Switzerland, feminine |
Telefonzelle refers to a small enclosure housing a public telephone.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Telefonzelle is a compound of Telefon (telephone) and Zelle (cell or small compartment).
Which one should you use?
While Telefonzelle is the standard term in Germany, Telefonkabine is the preferred term used in Switzerland.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Switzerland, you will see Telefonkabine used and in certain areas, people might use Telefonhäuschen to refer to a telephone booth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Telefonzelle is Telefonzellen.
Did you know?
- The word Zelle in Telefonzelle is the same word used for a prison cell or a biological cell. This gives the German term a sense of confinement that the English 'booth' lacks.
- In German, the word Telefon is a loanword from French 'téléphone', which itself stems from the Greek 'tele' (far) and 'phone' (sound).
- In the context of modern German urban life, seeing a Telefonzelle is increasingly rare, as they are often viewed as relics of the pre-mobile era.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wo sich die nächste öffentliche Telefonzelle befindet?Excuse me, could you please tell me where the nearest public telephone booth is?
- Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Telefonkabine?Is there a telephone booth nearby?
- Weißt du, wo ich eine Telefonzelle finden kann?Do you know where I can find a telephone booth?
- Ist da drüben eine Telefonsäule?Is that over there a telephone booth?
- Die Telefonzelle ist an der Ecke.The telephone booth is on the corner.
- Ich suche eine Telefonzelle.I am looking for a telephone booth.
- In der Telefonzelle ist es sehr eng.It is very cramped inside the telephone booth.
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are walking in the city and need to make a call.
- JulianWo ist die nächste Telefonzelle?Where is the nearest telephone booth?
- SarahDort drüben steht eine Telefonzelle.There is a telephone booth over there.
- JulianDanke, ich muss kurz telefonieren.Thanks, I need to make a quick call.
- SarahKein Problem, ich warte hier.No problem, I will wait here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “telephone booth” translations and entries Telefonzelle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Telefonzelle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
