We’ve put together a list of useful sentences and phrases for you to use in a conference call. Let’s take a look.

Welcoming participants

  • Hi … (name) you’re the first one to dial in so let’s wait for the others.
  • Hello. This is … Peter from Hamburg.
  • Good morning Peter. Thank you for joining us today.
  • Hello, who has just joined the call?
  • … (name) is also on the line.
  • I just wanted to let you know that … (name) will be joining us today.

 

Making small talk 

  • How is everyone?
  • What’s the weather like over there?

 

Checking attendance

  • Before we start, could you please briefly introduce yourselves?
  • Unfortunately, Marion is absent today. We will have to proceed without her.

 

The purpose of the meeting

  • The main objective today is…
  • What we want to achieve today is…
  • Today we would like to discuss…

 

Maximizing understanding

  • We have people from Germany and Italy here today. Could you please speak clearly and slowly so that everyone understands.
  • Could you please speak one at a time?

 

Problems with sound

  • I can’t hear you very well.
  • I’m sorry. I ‘m having trouble with my microphone.
  • There’s a lot of noise in the background. Could you check your microphone, please?
  • John, you need to switch off the mute button if you want to speak.
  • John, could you dial in again?

 

Understanding 

  • I’m sorry, Peter, but I’m afraid I didn’t understand. Please could you repeat that?
  • Peter, would you mind repeating that?
  • I’m sorry, Peter, but I didn’t understand the last part of your sentence. 
  • Peter, could you explain that in another way?
  • Could you say that again, please?
  • I’m afraid I didn’t understand, John. Could you speak more slowly please?
  • I’m sorry, I still didn’t understand. Could you please speak up a bit?
  • Peter, what do you mean by…?

 

Clarifying

  • No, sorry, that’s not what I meant.
  • Maybe I didn’t explain that very well.
  • Let me explain that in another way.
X