Is phone formal or informal?

It is neutral and very common in everyday English.

What is the difference between phone and telephone?

Phone is more common in speech. Telephone sounds more formal or old-fashioned.

Can I use phone as a verb?

Yes. You can say, “I’ll phone you later.”

Does phone usually mean mobile phone?

Yes, in modern everyday English it usually does.

← Dictionary

phone

/fəʊn/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A device you use to call, text, and connect to the internet. In everyday English, this usually means a mobile phone.

I left my phone at home.
My phone battery is low.
She checked her phone after the meeting.

verb

To call someone by telephone.

I'll phone you later.
Please phone the doctor.
She phoned her brother last night.

Adinary Nuance

Phone is the everyday word for a mobile device, especially in spoken English. Telephone is more formal and can mean either a landline device or the system itself. In business writing, people often say call instead of phone.

In other languages

Vietnamese: điện thoại
Spanish: teléfono
Chinese: 电话
Japanese: 電話
Korean: 전화

Etymology

Short for telephone. It entered English in the late 1800s, from Greek roots meaning “far” and “sound.”

Common phrases

phone callphone numberon the phonephone battery

Synonyms

telephone mobile cellphone

Related words

call text landline smartphone

Frequently asked questions

Is phone formal or informal?: It is neutral and very common in everyday English.
What is the difference between phone and telephone?: Phone is more common in speech. Telephone sounds more formal or old-fashioned.
Can I use phone as a verb?: Yes. You can say, “I’ll phone you later.”
Does phone usually mean mobile phone?: Yes, in modern everyday English it usually does.