German word

Telefonat

Pronunciation

IPA/teləfoˈnaːt/

Meaning

  • neuter nounphone call

Example

Ich habe heute ein Telefonat mit meiner Mutter geführt.

Today, I spoke with my mother on the phone.

Illustration for Telefonat (phone call)

More examples

Nach einem verpassten Telefonat habe ich sofort zurückgerufen.

After a missed phone call, I called back immediately.

Core concept

Two people connected by telephone speak in a single, bounded conversation.

Common phrases

  • ein verpasstes Telefonat

    a missed phone call

  • ein wichtiges Telefonat führen

    have an important phone call

  • etwas in einem Telefonat besprechen

    discuss something during a phone call

Similar words

Anruf: A single phone call, whether placed or received.
Gespräch: An exchange of words between people, in person or remotely.

Definition in German

ein Gespräch, das per Telefon stattfindet

Word origin

Telefonat is built on Telefon, a German borrowing ultimately based on Greek tele 'far' and phone 'voice'.

Usage tips

  • The standard collocation is ein Telefonat mit jemandem fuehren, with the other person expressed by mit.

Other meanings

  • phone conversationnoun

Opposites

  • persönliche Begegnungpersonal encounternoun
  • schriftliche Nachrichtwritten messagenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word