On the phone Meaning in English
expression
AHN-thuh-FOHN
ON-thuh-FOHN
Definition
Talking or communicating with someone by telephone. It can also mean being busy with a phone call.
Usage & Nuances
Common in everyday conversation for phone calls (not video calls). Used for being busy ("She's on the phone"), or to indicate the way of communicating ("I spoke to him on the phone"). Not used for texting or messaging.
Spanish: al teléfonoPortuguese (BR): no telefonePortuguese (PT): ao telefoneChinese (Simplified): 在通话中 - 在打电话Chinese (Traditional): 在通話中 - 在打電話Hindi: फ़ोन परArabic: على الهاتفBengali: ফোনেRussian: по телефонуJapanese: 電話で - 電話中Vietnamese: điện thoại - đang nghe điện thoạiKorean: 전화로 - 통화 중Turkish: telefonda - telefonlaUrdu: فون پرIndonesian: di telepon
Example Sentences
She is on the phone with her mom.
basic
Please wait, I am on the phone.
basic
He often talks to his friends on the phone.
basic
Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm on the phone.
natural
Let me call you back, I'm still on the phone with my boss.
natural
We spent hours on the phone catching up last night.
natural