Dialogue
Return a missed call in French: who called, and what about?
Open a callback, give your name and identify the reason for the earlier call. Practise a complete phone dialogue and three useful follow-up questions.
- A2
- 10 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Open with Bonjour, je vous rappelle après votre message de ce matin. Je m’appelle Adam Morel. If the topic is unclear, ask C’est au sujet de quoi ?
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
You have a voicemail from a community centre, but you missed the caller’s name. Give your own name first, then mention the message. That gives reception a starting point for finding the right person.
- Reception
Centre culturel, bonjour.
English
Cultural centre, hello.
- You
Bonjour, je vous rappelle après votre message de ce matin. Je m’appelle Adam Morel.
Say you are returning this morning’s message and give your name.
English
Hello, I’m calling back after your message this morning. My name is Adam Morel.
- Reception
Un instant, je regarde. Vous avez le nom de la personne ?
English
One moment, I’ll check. Do you have the person’s name?
- You
Non, je n’ai pas bien compris son nom.
Say you didn’t quite catch the name.
English
No, I didn’t quite catch their name.
- Reception
C’est Madame Diallo qui vous a appelé.
English
It was Ms Diallo who called you.
- You
Merci. C’est au sujet de quoi ?
Thank reception and ask what the call is about.
English
Thank you. What is it about?
- Reception
C’est au sujet de votre inscription à l’atelier photo de jeudi.
English
It’s about your enrolment in Thursday’s photography workshop.
- You
D’accord. Est-ce que je peux lui parler ?
Ask whether you can speak to Ms Diallo.
English
All right. Can I speak to her?
- Reception
Elle est en réunion jusqu’à quatorze heures. Vous pouvez rappeler cet après-midi.
English
She’s in a meeting until two. You can call back this afternoon.
- You
Très bien, je rappellerai cet après-midi. Merci, au revoir.
Say you will call back this afternoon, then close the call.
English
Very good, I’ll call back this afternoon. Thank you, goodbye.
| Missing detail | Ask | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Caller | Qui m’a appelé ? | Who called me? |
| Topic | C’est au sujet de quoi ? | What is it about? |
| A word you missed | Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? | Can you repeat that, please? |
Je vous rappelle means “I’m calling you back” in this phone opening. In another setting, je vous rappelle que… introduces a reminder: “I’d remind you that…”. To ask for the person just named, use lui parler: Est-ce que je peux lui parler ? The same lui works for a man or a woman.