teléfono
/teˈlefono/masculine
The English phrase telephone is teléfono in Spanish.
teléfono is a masculine noun referring to a 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. You can use teléfono fijo to specify a landline telephone, or the technical term aparato telefónico to refer to a telephone apparatus or device. If you want to describe the action of contacting someone by phone, you can use the verbs telefonear or llamar por teléfono.
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)
Which one should you use?
While teléfono is the general term for the device, in many contexts, it refers specifically to a landline or the concept of the device, whereas celular refers to a mobile device.
Is it said differently in some regions?
To refer to a mobile phone, use móvil in Spain and celular in Argentina. In many Latin American countries, the word celular is more commonly used than teléfono to refer specifically to a mobile phone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of teléfono is teléfonos.
How do you pronounce it?
/teˈlefono/
Did you know?
- While móvil and celular are both used for mobile phones, using celular in Spain can make a speaker sound like they are imitating a Latin American soap opera.
- In some Caribbean Spanish dialects, people may use the term el aparato (the apparatus) as a slangy way to refer to their teléfono.
- While teléfono comes from Greek, the Spanish word celular used in Latin America comes from the Latin 'cellula', meaning 'small room'.
Examples in context
- El teléfono es rojo.The telephone is red.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a teléfono.Tatoeba #5207847 by diegocas33, translation #5207849 by CM
- Mi teléfono es bonito.My telephone is pretty.This sentence is useful for describing a teléfono as pretty.Tatoeba #1102380 by Shishir, translation #1102513 by ajgajg1134
- ¿Hay un teléfono aquí?Is there a telephone here?This sentence is useful for asking if a teléfono is available in a location.Tatoeba #1547965 by marcelostockle, translation #880601 by CK
- Me puedes llamar al teléfono de la oficina.You can call me on the office telephone.
- El aparato telefónico tiene una excelente calidad de sonido.The telephone device has excellent sound quality.
- ¡No olvides cargar el teléfono móvil antes de salir!Don't forget to charge your mobile phone before you leave!
- Voy a mandarle un mensaje a Juan en el móvil.I'm going to send Juan a message on his cell phone.
- 144 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía is looking for her phone in the living room.
- Sofía¿Has visto mi teléfono, Mateo?Have you seen my phone, Mateo?
- MateoSí, el teléfono está en la mesa.Yes, the phone is on the table.
- SofíaGracias, pensé que perdí mi teléfono.Thanks, I thought I lost my phone.
- MateoDe nada, Sofía.You're welcome, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “telephone” translations and entries teléfono, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
