How to Answer the Phone Politely in French: Formal and Informal Phrases
Learn to answer the phone in French with confident, polite phrases for formal and informal situations, including how to say who is speaking and how to ask who is calling.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Answering the phone in French is a small but high-stakes moment: the first words you say set the tone, and French has clear conventions for doing it politely. This lesson focuses only on answering calls, not making them. You will learn the standard formal opener, the casual opener used with friends and family, how to identify yourself with 'this is...', and how to ask who is calling without sounding abrupt. Register matters here: using a casual greeting with a client or a formal greeting with a close friend can both sound slightly off. The phrases below are standard contemporary French, with notes on when each one fits.
By the end, you can…
- answer the phone politely in a formal context using standard French conventions.
- answer the phone casually with friends or family and identify myself naturally.
- ask who is calling and respond appropriately when the caller gives their name.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Allô, bonjour.
Hello.
ah-LOH, bohn-ZHOOR
The standard formal opener. 'Allô' is used only on the phone; it is not a general greeting. Follow it with 'bonjour' during the day or 'bonsoir' in the evening.
Allô, oui ?
Hello?
ah-LOH, wee
A neutral, slightly brisk way to answer. Common in France when the caller is expected or when you are busy. It can sound curt in very formal service contexts, so pair it with a greeting if in doubt.
Bonjour, c'est Marie Dupont.
Hello, this is Marie Dupont.
bohn-ZHOOR, say mah-REE dew-POHN
The standard way to say who is speaking. French uses 'c'est' (literally 'it is'), not a direct equivalent of 'this is'. Use your full name in formal contexts.
Salut, c'est moi.
Hi, it's me.
sah-LU, say mwah
Informal and only appropriate when the caller will recognize your voice, such as a close friend or family member. Avoid with colleagues you do not know well.
C'est de la part de qui ?
Who's calling, please?
say duh lah par duh KEE
A polite, indirect way to ask who is calling. It literally means 'it is on whose behalf?' and is softer than a direct 'Who are you?'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
French phone answers often combine 'Allô' with a greeting and an identification. The core pattern is: Allô + greeting + c'est + name. For example: 'Allô, bonjour, c'est Paul Martin.' In informal speech, the name can be replaced by 'moi': 'Allô, salut, c'est moi.' Note that 'Allô' is reserved for phone calls and is not used face to face. If you need to ask who is calling, the polite formula is 'C'est de la part de qui ?' rather than a literal translation of 'Who is this?'
When to use it
Use 'Allô, bonjour' and 'Bonjour, c'est...' for work calls, calls to businesses, and anyone you address with 'vous'. Use 'Allô, salut' and 'Salut, c'est moi' only with people you address with 'tu', such as friends and close family. In Belgium and parts of Switzerland, 'Allô' is understood but some speakers answer with 'Oui, j'écoute' or simply 'Oui ?'; in Quebec, 'Allô' is also standard, and 'Bonjour' is common in business settings. When in doubt, choose the formal version; it is rarely wrong.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Allô, bonjour.
Hello.ah-LOH, bohn-ZHOORBonjour, c'est Claire Moreau. Je peux parler à Monsieur Leroy ?
Hello, this is Claire Moreau. May I speak to Mr. Leroy?bohn-ZHOOR, say klair moh-ROH. zhuh puh par-LAY ah muh-SYUR luh-RWAHBonjour, madame. C'est de la part de qui ?
Hello, madam. Who's calling, please?bohn-ZHOOR, mah-DAM. say duh lah par duh KEEC'est de la part de Claire Moreau, de la société Martin.
It's Claire Moreau, from the company Martin.say duh lah par duh klair moh-ROH, duh lah soh-syay-TAY mar-TANA little context goes a long way
In France, answering with a bare 'Allô ?' is common among friends but can seem abrupt in professional settings; adding 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' softens it. French business calls often expect you to state your name when answering a direct line, while in many English-speaking contexts people wait to be asked. Regional habits vary: 'Allô' is standard across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec, but the greeting that follows may differ, and in Quebec 'Bonjour' is especially common in workplace calls.
One thing to watch for
Answering with 'Je suis Marie' to mean 'This is Marie' on the phone.
Try this instead: Use 'C'est Marie' or 'C'est Marie à l'appareil'. 'Je suis Marie' means 'I am Marie' as a statement of identity, which sounds odd as a phone introduction. For example: 'Bonjour, c'est Marie Dupont.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A client calls your office. Answer formally and say who you are. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Allô, bonjour. C'est [your name].
This combines the standard phone opener, a greeting, and the 'c'est' identification pattern. 'Allô, bonsoir' is also correct after roughly 6 p.m.
2A friend calls. Answer casually and let them know it's you. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Allô, salut, c'est moi.
'Salut' and 'c'est moi' are appropriate with someone who knows your voice. 'Allô, salut, c'est [name]' is also fine if you prefer to be explicit.
3You do not recognize the caller's voice. Ask politely who is calling. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
C'est de la part de qui ?
This is the standard polite formula. 'Qui est à l'appareil ?' is also correct and slightly more direct, but 'C'est de la part de qui ?' is generally softer.
Answer with 'Allô' plus a greeting, then identify yourself with 'c'est'. Match the register to the caller: 'bonjour' and full names for formal calls, 'salut' and 'c'est moi' for friends. Ask who is calling with 'C'est de la part de qui ?'.
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