Telefonoz — calls and messages

Speaking on the phone in another language can be intimidating — you can’t see the other person’s face, there are no gestures. That’s why this lesson is purely formulaic: set phrases that always work, from a formal call to a WhatsApp voice note.

Answering and asking

Spanish	Basque
Yes? Hello?	Bai, esan?
Who is it?	Nor da?
Is Ane there?	Ane dago?
It’s Mikel	Mikel naiz
One moment, I’ll put them on	Une batez, orain jarriko da
They’re not here right now	Orain ez dago

When they can’t come to the phone

— Kaixo, Ane dago?

— Ez, orain ez dago. Zerbait esan behar diot?

— Bai, mesedez: bilera bihar dela, ez gaur. Edo hobeto: deituko didala, libre dagoenean.

— Ederki, esango diot. Nor zarela esango diot?

— Mikel naiz, lanekoa. Eskerrik asko!

Notice: esan behar diot (I have to tell them), esango diot (I will tell them), deituko didala (that they call me) — the NOR-NORI-NORK from unit 03 rules the phone. To call is deitu + NORI: deitu diot (I have called them), deituko dizut (I will call you).

Technical problems (the classics)

Spanish	Basque
The line is busy	Komunikatzen ari da
There’s no signal	Estaldurarik ez dago
I’ve run out of battery	Bateria gabe geratu naiz
The connection is bad	Gaizki entzuten da
The call dropped	Deia moztu da
Wrong number	Okerreko zenbakia

Barkatu, gaizki entzuten da. Igogailuan nago — gero deituko dizut! — Sorry, the connection is bad. I’m in an elevator — I’ll call you later!

Messages (gaur egungo bizitza)

Mezu bat bidali dizut WhatsAppez. — I’ve sent you a message on WhatsApp.

Audioa entzun duzu? — Have you listened to the voice note?

Deitu beharrean, idatzi, mesedez: bileran nago. — Instead of calling, please write: I’m in a meeting.

The answering machine / voicemail

«Kaixo! Orain ezin dut telefonoa hartu. Utzi mezua seinalearen ondoren, eta lehenbailehen deituko dizut. Eskerrik asko!» — Hi! I can’t take the call right now. Please leave a message after the tone, and I’ll call you back as soon as possible. Thanks!

Lehenbailehen = as soon as possible. An elegant word that raises your perceived level by two points. 😄