German word

telefonieren

Pronunciation

IPA/teləfoˈniːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbcall

Example

Ich telefoniere gleich mit dem Kunden.

I'll call the customer shortly.

Illustration for telefonieren (call)

More examples

Ich telefoniere heute mit Oma.

I'm calling Grandma today.

Ich telefoniere jetzt mit einer Kollegin wegen des Projekts.

I am talking to a colleague on the phone now about the project.

Core concept

A person speaking through a phone to someone who is not nearby.

Common phrases

  • mit jemandem telefonieren

    talk on the phone with someone

  • am Telefon telefonieren

    talk on the phone

  • lange telefonieren

    talk on the phone for a long time

Similar words

anrufen: Place a phone call to someone.
zurückrufen: Call someone again later in response to an earlier call.
ans Telefon gehen: Answer an incoming phone call.
auflegen: End a phone conversation by disconnecting.

Definition in German

am Telefon mit jemandem sprechen

Word origin

Telefonieren is formed from the noun Telefon with the verb-forming suffix -ieren, while Telefon ultimately combines Greek tele 'far' and phone 'voice'.

Usage tips

  • Telefonieren normally takes mit plus the dative for the person contacted, as in mit dem Kunden, rather than a direct object.

Other meanings

  • talk on the phoneverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word