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Simmonds · live on simmonds.onlineA25 min · English

Taking and leaving messages in English: vocabulary, dialogue and useful phrases

Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 26 Oct 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)

Live rounds with a trainer and a small group. To warm up: Theo asks, you answer.

Allow the microphone – Theo asks the first question.

Find a live round with a trainer – Opens simmonds.online: conversation classes in small groups

AI conversation partner, synthetic voice · your voice is processed live by Google Gemini, we store no audio and no transcript · max. 5 minAbout the AIWith headphones you can interrupt Theo. Without them, the microphone only listens once Theo has finished.

Phone messagesA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about phone messages (level A2)Status updateA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about a quick status update (level A2)Customer serviceB1 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about customer service calls (level B1)

Question of the day

What does David put on Sarah's desk?

  1. A phone
  2. A note
  3. A folder
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day

Correct answer: A note

You can find the answer in the English introduction.

Listen to the introduction

Speed

Transcript

David works in a busy office. The phone rings, and a customer asks for Sarah. Sarah is not at her desk at the moment – Jump to the vocabulary entry for at the moment. David offers to take a message – Jump to the vocabulary entry for take a message. The customer wants to leave a message – Jump to the vocabulary entry for leave a message about a new project. David needs to write down some contact details – Jump to the vocabulary entry for contact details, so he asks for a name and phone number. The name is difficult, so David asks, "Could you spell that – Jump to the vocabulary entry for spell that, please?" Finally, David promises that Sarah will call back – Jump to the vocabulary entry for call back this afternoon. He puts the note on Sarah's desk.

Vocabulary

at the moment/ət ðə ˈməʊ.mənt/
Meaning: Now, or right now.
Example: I am sorry, but the manager is busy at the moment.
take a message/teɪk ə ˈmes.ɪdʒ/
Meaning: To write down information for someone else.
Example: He is not here. Can I take a message?
leave a message/liːv ə ˈmes.ɪdʒ/
Meaning: To give information for someone who is not there.
Example: I would like to leave a message for my boss.
contact details/ˈkɒn.tækt ˈdiː.teɪlz/
Meaning: Information like a name, email address, or phone number.
Example: Please give me your contact details so we can write to you.
spell that/ˌspel ˈðæt/
Meaning: To say the letters of a word one by one.
Example: My name is Smythe. Should I spell that for you?
call back/ˌkɔːl ˈbæk/
Meaning: To telephone someone again later.
Example: She is in a meeting, but she will call back later.

Dialogue

  1. EmmaGood morning, this is Emma. How can I help?
  2. TomHello Emma, this is Tom. Can I speak to Alex, please?
  3. EmmaI am afraid Alex is in a meeting at the moment.
  4. TomOh, I see. When does the meeting finish?
  5. EmmaIn about an hour. Can I take a message?
  6. TomYes, please. Could you ask him to call back?
  7. EmmaOf course. I have your contact details on my screen.
  8. TomThank you, Emma. Talk to you later.

Questions for your conversation

Partner A

Easier: Do you often answer the phone at work? Why or why not?

The person you need isn't there – what message do you leave?

More challenging: How do you make sure you write down important names and numbers correctly?

Partner B

Easier: Is it easy for you to speak English on the phone? Why or why not?

What do you say when you answer the phone at your company?

More challenging: Why do some people prefer to send an email instead of leaving a voicemail?

Partner A

Easier: Do you have a work mobile phone? Why or why not?

How quickly should someone return a missed call?

More challenging: What information is absolutely necessary to include when you take a message for a colleague?

Useful phrases

  • Can I speak to Sarah, please?
  • I am afraid she is not here at the moment.
  • Can I take a message?
  • Could you ask him to call me back?
  • Could you spell that for me, please?
  • Does he have your number?

Topic quiz

Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.

All conversations – Back to all English conversations

Questions

Who is Theo?

Theo is an AI conversation partner for warming up, not a teacher. The voice is synthetic. In the live rounds, a trainer talks with you.

Is my conversation stored?

We store neither audio nor a transcript. During the conversation, your voice is sent to Google (Gemini) for processing. The conversation ends after no more than five minutes.

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