It’s what you pick up to make a call, what rings during dinner, and what’s slowly being replaced by video chats—but still very much in use. In German, it’s das Telefon. This is your German word of the day, and it's a must-know word for communication in any setting—home, office, or emergency.
The noun Telefon means telephone or phone, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It’s common in conversation, signage, forms, and everyday speech.
It’s a neuter noun, so we say das Telefon (still unsure about gender? Our video lesson explains it in a way that sticks).
Pronunciation
Telefon is pronounced [te-le-FOHN].
Te like “teh,”
le like “leh,”
fon rhymes with “phone,”
Stress is on the last syllable: tele-FON
It’s nearly identical to the English word—just a bit more precise.
Example sentences:
Ich habe das Telefon nicht gehört.
I didn’t hear the phone.
Darf ich kurz dein Telefon benutzen?
May I use your phone for a moment?
Nuance and usage tips
Telefon usually refers to a physical device (landline or mobile), though in everyday language, Handy is the more common word for “cell phone.”
Useful phrases:
am Telefon sprechen – speak on the phone
ein Telefonat führen – to make a call
ans Telefon gehen – to answer the phone
Telefonnummer – phone number
Telefon klingelt – phone is ringing
Examples:
“Ich bin gerade am Telefon.” – I’m on the phone right now.
“Er hat das Telefon nicht abgenommen.” – He didn’t answer the phone.
Note: Germans often differentiate between Telefon (device) and Anruf (the call itself).
How does this word come up in real conversations?
It’s still in everyday use—especially in offices, customer service, or when offering contact info.
“Sie erreichen mich auch telefonisch.” – You can also reach me by phone.
“Das Telefon funktioniert nicht.” – The phone isn’t working.
“Die Polizei ist rund um die Uhr telefonisch erreichbar.” – The police are reachable by phone 24/7.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Anna: Dein Telefon klingelt!
Leo: Oh nein, das hab ich gar nicht gehört.
Anna: Vielleicht ist es wichtig.
Leo: Zu spät – jetzt ist es weg.
Anna: Your phone’s ringing!
Leo: Oh no, I didn’t even hear it.
Anna: Maybe it was important.
Leo: Too late—it stopped.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:
Das Telefon ist neu.
The phone is new.
Accusative:
Ich nehme das Telefon mit.
I’m taking the phone with me.
Dative:
Mit dem Telefon kannst du auch SMS schreiben.
You can also send texts with the phone.
Genitive:
Die Farbe des Telefons ist schwarz.
The phone’s color is black.
Neuter case pattern: das, das, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Related words:
Handy – cell phone (colloquial German)
Telefonat – a phone call
Telefonzelle – phone booth
Festnetztelefon – landline
Telefonleitung – telephone line
Cultural note: Germans commonly use telefonieren as the verb for "to talk on the phone":
“Ich telefoniere gerade.” – I’m on the phone right now.
📘 Duden entry
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