telefono
/teˈlɛ.fo.no/masculine
The English word 'telephone' is telefono in Italian.
telefono is the standard Italian noun for a telephone. While telefono is the general term, you might encounter more specific descriptions: apparecchio telefonico refers to the physical telephone device, often used when describing landlines. telefono fisso specifically means a fixed-line telephone. And cellulare is the term used for a mobile phone or cellphone.
Meaning: telecommunication device which converts data or sounds into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to communicate with each other over a distance (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that someone is currently engaged in a conversation, use the phrase al telefono. If you want to use the related verb telefonare to mean 'to call someone', it is an intransitive verb that must be followed by the preposition a before the person being contacted (e.g., telefonare a someone).
How do you pronounce it?
/teˈlɛ.fo.no/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- If you are waiting for a call and your mobile phone shows no signal, you might say non c'è campo. Although campo usually means a 'field' or 'pitch', in this context, it refers to the 'field' of radio waves.
- Instead of saying they will 'talk' to you later, Italians often use the verb sentirsi, which literally means 'to feel each other'. It is a common way to say 'we will be in touch' via telephone.
- In Italy, the phrase stare al telefono can mean both that a person is currently talking to someone and that they are waiting on hold.
Examples in context
- Tom è al telefono.Tom is on the telephone.This sentence shows how to use telefono to say someone is currently on the phone.Tatoeba #1267807 by Guybrush88, translation #2545782 by CK
- Io ho un telefono.I have a telephone.This sentence uses telefono to express ownership of a telephone.Tatoeba #4702509 by Guybrush88, translation #4500038 by CK
- Lei ha un telefono.She has a telephone.Tatoeba #3639791 by Guybrush88, translation #3639798 by MTC
- Ho bisogno di un telefonoI need a telephone
- Mi scusi, dove posso trovare un telefono?Excuse me, where can I find a telephone?
- Mi potrebbe passare l'apparecchio telefonico?Could you pass me the telephone device?
- Dai, fammi vedere il telefonino!Come on, let me see your cellphone!
- Prendo il cellulare per chiamartiI'm grabbing my cellphone to call you
- Devo chiamare dal telefono fissoI need to call from the landline telephone
- Posso usare il telefono per chiamare un taxi?Can I use the telephone to call a taxi?
- Mi puoi dare il tuo cellulare?Can you give me your cellphone?
- Ho bisogno di chiamare l'assistenza tecnica per il mio apparecchio telefonicoI need to call technical support for my telephone device
- Allora, quando mi chiami sul cell?So, when are you calling me on the cell?
- 206 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are in the living room.
- GiuliaFrancesco, dov'è il mio telefono?Francesco, where is my telephone?
- FrancescoÈ proprio lì, vicino al divano.It is right there, near the sofa.
- GiuliaAh, grazie! Pensavo di averlo perso.Ah, thanks! I thought I had lost it.
- FrancescoNon preoccuparti, Giulia.Don't worry, Giulia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “telephone” translations and entries telefono, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
