# How do they answer the phones in other languages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 6, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241 "2005-03-06T20:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/1 "2005-03-06T20:50:29Z")
Everybody I know answers it “Hello?” in English and “Oui allo?” in French. How do they do it in other languages? And do the France French answer it differently than the Quebecois? Do the Germans answer with typical teutonic efficiency? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/2 "2005-03-06T20:53:44Z")
The Italians tend to answer with “pronto”. There’s more info [here.](http://www.netjeff.com/humor/item.cgi?file=HelloOnTelephoneWorldwide) ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/3 "2005-03-06T20:57:12Z")
> [@Nunavut Boy](#): > > Everybody I know answers it “Hello?” in English and “Oui allo?” in French. How do they do it in other languages? And do the France French answer it differently than the Quebecois? Do the Germans answer with typical teutonic efficiency? Not universal by any means, but many Israelis (including me) answer the phone “_Shalom_” (“peace” – also used as the generic greeting \*\*and[/b/] as the generic parting [“hello” / “goodbye”]) Dani ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/4 "2005-03-06T21:02:56Z")
Most of the Dutch people I know answer the phone: “Met Alfred.” (or “Met (whatever your name is).”) In the example above it is translated as, “With Alfred” (literally), or effectively, “Alfred here.” Any Nederlanders please feel free to correct me on any of this if I goofed it up! ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/5 "2005-03-06T21:15:31Z")
When I went to Taiwan, they answered the phone with: “Wei?” Pronounced similar to way and weigh. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/6 "2005-03-06T21:21:30Z")
Serbia: _Da, molim_ (“yes, please”) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/7 "2005-03-06T21:22:33Z")
In Japanese: moshi moshi! I’ve read it’s to prove you’re not a fox spirit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/8 "2005-03-06T22:02:46Z")
Prove you’re not a fox spirit??? is that a big problem in Japan? ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/9 "2005-03-06T22:04:17Z")
Spanish uses “Alo?” (accent on the “A”) or “Diga”. ---
**Author:** ![wampeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wampeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wampeter)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/10 "2005-03-06T22:08:46Z")
> [@Noone Special](#): > > Not universal by any means, but many Israelis (including me) answer the phone “_Shalom_” (“peace” – also used as the generic greeting \*\*and[/b/] as the generic parting [“hello” / “goodbye”]) > > Dani I usually hear Israelis answer “Allo”, not so much “shalom”. My Mexican friends always answered “Bueno?”, which I thought was interesting, since it means “Good?” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/11 "2005-03-06T22:10:25Z")
Actually, it’s got more of a “well?” flavor. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/12 "2005-03-06T22:39:42Z")
> [@DrMatrix](#): > > Prove you’re not a fox spirit??? is that a big problem in Japan? You can’t be too careful with these things. Most of Europe, IME: “Alo?” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/13 "2005-03-06T22:39:49Z")
Well, obviously it’s a holdover from meeting strange people on the road a few centuries ago. I mean, if the fox spirit (kitsune) is on the _phone_, I imagine you don’t have to worry about it - unless it’s like in **Scream** where they’re calling from _inside your house_. Then you may indeed need to worry about fox spirits. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/14 "2005-03-06T22:42:56Z")
Korean: Yoboseyo? Literally means “hello”, but only in the context of answering the phone, AFAIK. In an ‘_awww… ain’t they cute! barf_’ aside; “yobo” in Korean is the word to refer to one’s spouse (as in honey, dear, hey you!, etc.)… when my wife (native Korean) and I (native white guy) call each other, we answer with “Yobo… seyo!” I guess you probably have to be either Korean or married to a Korean for that to amuse you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/15 "2005-03-06T22:50:10Z")
In Germany it’s usual to answer the phone with one’s name, i.e. Mr. Müller will usually answer his private phone with “Müller.” and his phone at his desk at Example AG with “Example AG, Müller” or “Example AG, Müller, guten Tag”, and when he’s visiting the Meyers and picking up the phone there: “Bei Meyer, Müller, guten Tag”. (At the Meyers, Müller speaking, hello".) The advantage of that is that ideally the first exchange establishes both parties’ identities so one can get to the business of the call. The disadvantage is that the caller cannot let his mind wander while waiting for the phone being picked up. Picking up with “Hallo” is somewhat gaining currency, though, notably with the sort of women who have herself listed with last name only in the phone directory, and with people who take the call at their mobile phone or who don’t share the fixed-line phone with others in their household. (Being old-fashioned in this respect I consider this annoying myself - I insist on clearly establishing who I am talking to before coming to the subject of the call.) ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/16 "2005-03-06T22:50:47Z")
> [@DrMatrix](#): > > Prove you’re not a fox spirit??? is that a big problem in Japan? I’ve read stuff that says the Japanese believe that ghosts can’t say a word an even number of times (only odd numbers) so that’s the reason behind saying “moshimoshi”. haven’t been able to find a good confirmation tho’. “Moshi” is a corruption of “mousu” or “I speak” in very polite language. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/17 "2005-03-06T22:51:28Z")
My german friend answers with his last name [Krause, if anybody is interested…is I guess nearly the equivalent to smith in the us…very common last name=)] Though he was military, so it might be a military thing, my father and hubby occasionally answer with their last name. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/18 "2005-03-06T22:57:44Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Well, obviously it’s a holdover from meeting strange people on the road a few centuries ago. I mean, if the fox spirit (kitsune) is on the _phone_, I imagine you don’t have to worry about it - unless it’s like in **Scream** where they’re calling from _inside your house_. Then you may indeed need to worry about fox spirits. Well, the thing about Kitsune is that they’re not ‘rip your throat out’ type threats. They charm or trick their way into your life, then manipulate you into doing things. They can totally do that on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/19 "2005-03-06T23:18:49Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > I’ve read stuff that says the Japanese believe that ghosts can’t say a word an even number of times (only odd numbers) You know, as far as evil spirits go, these guys are pretty useless. > [@Tengu](#): > > They charm or trick their way into your life, then manipulate you into doing things. They can totally do that on the phone. Are these the fuckers that keep interrupting me during dinner trying to sell me vinyl siding or get me to donate to their PACs? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241/20 "2005-03-06T23:44:37Z")
> [@](#): > > In Germany it’s usual to answer the phone with one’s name, i.e. Mr. Müller will usually answer his private phone with > > “Müller.” In German class in highschool we were taught that the only proper German way to answer the phone was “Hier ist Müller” Is that out of date or were we taught wrong? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-answer-the-phones-in-other-languages/293241.md?page=2)