Portuguese Phone Call Phrases: Answer, Clarify, and End a Call
Use short, reusable phrases to handle a phone call in Brazilian Portuguese even when you miss a word.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Phone calls remove gestures and visual context, so a short opening helps establish who is speaking. Alô is a common way to answer a call. You can then say your name, ask who is speaking, or check whether the caller meant to reach you. In a work setting, add a greeting and the name of the business if appropriate.
Answer and check who is calling
Use por telefone or estou ligando when you need to explain the reason for your call. Keep the first sentence short. If the person speaks too quickly, you can ask them to say their name again before continuing.
Alô, aqui é a Marina.
Hello, this is Marina.
Quem está falando, por favor?
Who is speaking, please?
Estou ligando sobre a reserva.
I’m calling about the reservation.
Ask the other person to repeat or slow down
When audio is unclear, name the problem simply: Não entendi (I didn’t understand) or A ligação está falhando (The call is breaking up). Ask for repetition with Pode repetir, por favor? (Could you repeat, please?). To request a slower pace, say Pode falar mais devagar? (Could you speak more slowly?). These phrases keep the conversation cooperative.
If you missed a time, address, or number, ask the caller to repeat only that detail. For names and email addresses, request spelling one letter at a time. This is more reliable than guessing from a noisy connection.
Desculpe, não entendi. Pode repetir?
Sorry, I didn’t understand. Could you repeat that?
A ligação está falhando. Pode falar mais devagar?
The call is breaking up. Could you speak more slowly?
Pode soletrar o seu sobrenome?
Could you spell your last name?
Confirm information before you hang up
Repeat important details back to the caller: a date, meeting time, address, or next action. Use Então, ficou combinado para… (So, we agreed on…) or Só para confirmar… (Just to confirm…). This creates a quick check that both people understood the same information.
If you need a message, ask the caller to send the details by text or email. If you need to end the call, obrigado/obrigada pela ligação is a warm way to thank the person. Match obrigado or obrigada to the speaker’s gender in standard Portuguese.
Só para confirmar: a reunião é na terça às duas?
Just to confirm: the meeting is Tuesday at two?
Você pode me mandar o endereço por mensagem?
Can you send me the address by message?
Perfeito. Obrigado pela ligação. Até mais!
Perfect. Thanks for the call. Talk to you later! (speaker: man)
Practice a complete call in four short turns
Rehearse a short call with four steps: answer, state why you called, clarify one detail, and confirm what happens next. Practice once slowly and once at a natural pace. You can role-play a restaurant reservation, a delivery question, or a work appointment without inventing a long script.
Before a real call, write down names, numbers, and the one question you must ask. For extra speaking practice, try a role-play with a Brazilian teacher at I Speak Portuguese. Pair this guide with Real Life Portuguese lessons on numbers and asking questions so you can understand addresses and dates more confidently.
Alô, aqui é o Bruno. Estou ligando para confirmar a consulta.
Hello, this is Bruno. I’m calling to confirm the appointment.
A consulta é amanhã às nove? Pode repetir o endereço?
The appointment is tomorrow at nine? Could you repeat the address?
Entendi. Vou chegar dez minutos antes. Obrigado!
Got it. I’ll arrive ten minutes early. Thanks! (speaker: man)
Put it into practice
Memorize four call-repair phrases: não entendi, pode repetir, pode falar mais devagar, and só para confirmar. They help you recover when a call gets difficult.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The appointment is tomorrow at nine? Could you repeat the address”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.