Palabra Lexi · common words in Spanish
How to say "phone" in Spanish
"Phone" in Spanish is teléfono, pronounced teh-LEH-foh-noh (stress on the syllable in capitals). It is a masculine noun (el teléfono, plural los teléfonos).
| Spanish | teléfono |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | teh-LEH-foh-noh |
| Meaning | phone |
| Gender | masculine: el teléfono |
| Plural | los teléfonos |
| Frequency | #35 in the Palabra list of common Spanish words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Spanish voice. Gender and plural: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
How to pronounce teléfono
Teléfono is pronounced teh-LEH-foh-noh, in IPA /teˈlefono/. Teléfono has four syllables, teh-LEH-foh-noh, with the stress on the second. The written accent on é marks that syllable. On a keyboard without Spanish letters it is often typed "telefono"; the correct spelling is teléfono.
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Spanish voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Is teléfono masculine or feminine?
Teléfono is masculine, so it takes el (the) and un (a): el teléfono. The plural is los teléfonos. That fits the usual pattern: most nouns ending in -o are masculine.
Example sentences
El teléfono suena.
The phone is ringing.
La pantalla del teléfono es grande.
The phone screen is big.
Mi teléfono
my phone
"Phone" in Spain and Latin America
Other words you will hear
- móvil — Spain: mobile phone
- celular — Latin America: cell phone
Useful phrases
- ¿Me das tu número de teléfono?
Can I have your phone number?
Regional words and roots: Diccionario de la lengua española (RAE). Spanish varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember teléfono
teléfono [teh-LEH-foh-noh] sounds like the English “telephone”. Picture this:
The very same telephone: it rings in Spanish, you answer in any language you like.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice teléfono
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.