B1.1: Talking on the phone

Rozmowa przez telefon

Learn essential Polish phrases for talking on the phone, including greetings like "Halo" (Hello), asking "Kto mówi?" (Who's speaking?), and polite expressions such as "Proszę chwilę poczekać" (Please hold for a moment). This B1 lesson helps you navigate phone conversations with confidence.

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Coming soon...

Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!

Do you want to practice Polish today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.

Enroll now!

Introduction to Talking on the Phone in Polish

This lesson helps you develop practical skills for handling phone conversations in Polish at a B1 intermediate level. You will learn essential vocabulary, common expressions, and polite phrases necessary to make and receive calls, leave messages, and manage typical phone interactions.

Key Vocabulary and Phrases

Familiarity with specific words and phrases greatly improves your confidence when speaking on the phone. Here are some examples:

  • Halo? – Hello? (used when answering the phone)
  • Czy mogę rozmawiać z... – May I speak with...
  • Proszę poczekać – Please wait
  • Zostaw wiadomość – Leave a message
  • Odezwę się później – I'll get back to you later

Structure of Phone Conversations

Polish phone calls usually start with a greeting, followed by stating your purpose, and end with an appropriate farewell. Understanding how to structure your sentences is essential for smooth communication.

  • Starting the call: Halo, tu Anna Kowalska (Hello, this is Anna Kowalska)
  • Requesting to speak: Czy mogę rozmawiać z panem Nowakiem? (May I speak with Mr. Nowak?)
  • Asking to wait: Proszę chwilę poczekać (Please wait a moment)
  • Leaving messages: Poproszę o przekazanie wiadomości (Please pass on the message)
  • Ending the call: Do usłyszenia (Talk to you soon)

Tips on Politeness and Cultural Notes

Polish phone etiquette tends to be formal, especially in professional contexts. Using polite forms and titles (e.g., Pan for Mr., Pani for Ms.) is important. It’s common to say proszę (please) and dziękuję (thank you) throughout the conversation.

Differences Between English and Polish Phone Conversations

Unlike English, Polish telephone conversations usually start with Halo? as a universal phone greeting, not with phrases equivalent to "Hello, this is..." only. Also, Polish speakers use formal titles more consistently. The verb forms and sentence structure require attention; for example, the phrase "May I speak with..." is Czy mogę rozmawiać z... which directly translates as "Can I speak with..." but includes the polite question particle Czy.

Some useful comparison phrases:

  • Can I speak with Mr. Smith?Czy mogę rozmawiać z panem Smith?
  • Please wait a moment.Proszę poczekać chwilę.
  • I will call you back later.Zadzwonię do pana/pani później.

These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏