What to say in English when you cannot hear someone on a video call

"Your microphone is broken" makes a technical claim you may not be able to support. "I'm not hearing any sound from you" describes your experience and leaves room for several explanations.

Choose a sentence that matches what is happening:

What you notice	A sentence you can use
No voice reaches you	I can see you speaking, but there's no sound at my end.
Parts of the voice disappear	I'm only hearing parts of each sentence.
The picture stops but the sound continues	Your picture has stopped moving, but the sound is still clear.
You hear a repeated copy of your voice	I'm hearing my own voice back with a delay.
A shared document is not visible	I can hear the explanation, but I can't see the document.

These reports call for different responses. If the picture has stopped but you can still hear clearly, there may be no need to repeat everything. If the sound is missing, an explanation spoken into the same failing channel may not reach you.

You may hear the expression "breaking up" for interrupted call audio. ECS Scotland's video-conferencing English lesson includes this expression and examples for moving a message into the chat. In this setting, it refers to the call, not a relationship ending.

Not hearing someone does not tell you whether they can hear you. Ask: "Is my voice coming through to you? Please reply in the chat."

If they write yes, you know your outgoing voice reached them at that moment. You still need their response through a channel you can receive. Try: "Thanks. Please type your answer while I check my sound."

If they write no, continue in text while you agree what to do. If no reply appears, do not interpret silence as a successful test. They may not have seen the chat or may have lost access to the call entirely.

In a group meeting, address one person: "Sam, could you tell me in the chat whether my voice is coming through?" This gives someone a clear task instead of inviting several overlapping spoken answers.

Use a proposal with a response the other person can confirm:

• "I'll check my audio settings. Could you wait for one minute?"
• "The sound is clear enough for me. Shall we continue without the picture?"
• "Could we finish this part in the chat? I only need the reference number."
• "I'll leave and try joining again. Can you keep the meeting open?"

Treat these as choices, not guaranteed fixes. Rejoining may require the host to admit you again. Text may not be suitable for the information you are discussing. Use a communication channel that both people can access and are allowed to use.

If you use Zoom, its official audio-testing instructions separate the speaker test from the microphone test. The first checks what you hear; the second records and plays back your voice. Use the current instructions for your device rather than assuming someone else's menu looks identical to yours.

That distinction also helps your English: "I'm checking my speakers" and "I'm checking my microphone" tell the other person which part you are testing. A successful local test still needs a quick check with your conversation partner before you resume.

Once you can hear again, identify the last complete piece you received. For example: "I heard that we're using the blue folder. I missed which file to open."

Ask for the missing information, then check it: "The file called September notes, correct?" Avoid saying "all clear" if the audio works but you are still missing an instruction.

If the sound is clear and the words themselves are unfamiliar, say that instead: "The audio is fine now. I don't know what that expression means." The English clarification guide has practice for that different problem.

If the missing detail is an email address, use the spoken email-address guide to confirm the exact symbols and letters.

For this original two-person exercise, stay in a normal conversation and use fictional scenario cards. Do not change network settings or interrupt someone else's call.

Your partner needs to give you a folder colour and file name. They choose one card, tell you the stated conditions, and respond accordingly:

Card	Conditions for the practice exchange
A	They can hear you. You receive only their typed messages. The folder is blue; the file is September notes.
B	You hear them clearly, but cannot see the shared document. The folder is green; the file is Travel plan.
C	They return after a disconnection. You previously heard only the folder colour, yellow. The missing file name is Draft two.

With A, establish the direction that works and request the details in text. With B, explain the missing visual information rather than asking them to speak louder. With C, recover the missing file name without pretending you heard it earlier.

Finish by naming the folder and file. Compare your answer with the card. The task succeeds when the information matches and both people know whether you are continuing by voice or text. Speed is not the goal.